Born Thein Maung in the Irrawaddy delta in British Burma, Thukha began writing poems as a middle school student.

Thukha began his writing career at age 19 with a short fiction work "Zabe Pwint" ("Jasmine Petal") in Kawi Myetmhan magazine under the pen name Sein Thein Dan.

His script for Chitthamya (As Much As I Love) brought widespread fame and won respect and acknowledgment from the filmmaking community.

"Bawa Thanthaya" compares people to travelers on a train getting on and off at every station, illustrating the cycle of death and rebirth.

"Because he could not read or write in his old age," Maung Hnin Moe said, "he was thinking all the time and it is a great loss that he could not transform his thoughts into a form of work such as a book or film."

On October 26, 2000, Yangon University conferred the Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) degree on U Thukha for his significant and outstanding contributions and abilities.