He studied in the American School of Technology in Tirana in 1924–1930. The principal Harris Fultz valued Gjinishi due to his excellent grades, but also his character, knowledge and his multilingual abilities. Gjinishi spoke English, German, French and Italian. Gjinishi was the first to translate the Lahuta e Malcis to English and he helped publish the first Albanian science newspaper "Shekulli XX" where he quoted Midhat Frasheri, Skender Luarasi, Tajar Zavalani and others. He was arrested for having brought communist literature to the country during Zogs reign. Gjinishi was sentenced to death by the anti-Zogist demonstrations. His sentence was however commuted to life in prison. He escaped during the Italian invasion of 1939, and organized antifascist demonstrations in Tirana and Kavaja before fleeing to Yugoslavia.