Pandit Keshavbuwa Ingale was a Gwalior Gharana singer, musicologist and Guru in early 20th century Maharashtra. He had a strong musical background as his grandfather Bhikubuwa and father Gundubuwa both were Khayal singers in Gwalior Gharana tradition. He was born in Phaltan, Maharashtra and spent his formative years in Aundh and Sangli in receiving training of Gwalior Gayaki under his father Pandit Gundubuwa Ingale, who was trained under Gayanacharya Balkrishnabuwa Ichalkaranjikar. After his father’s death, he also received guidance from Pandit Yashvantbuwa Mirashi in Pune.

In 1931 he got matriculation degree and he performed in his first public concert in 1927 in Sangli. From March 1st 1931, he joined Ichalkaranji state as a court singer and served there till 1950. Besides the performances in the court of Maharaja Narayanrao Ghorpade of Ichalkaranji, he used to teach in the State music school which was founded by the Maharaja in 1930. As Maharaja himself was interested in learning vocal music, he with his other relatives was receiving vocal guidance from Keshavrao Ingale.

Pandit Keshavrao Ingale was a celebrated concert performer and presented successful concerts in Solapur Sangeet Parishad (1933), Dasara Utsav in Mysore state (1935), Music conference in Maurice music collage, Luckhnow (1936), Maharashtra Sangeet Parishad in Mumbai (1936), Gandharva Mahavidyalay, Pune by invitation of Pandit Vinayakrao Patwardhan (1942), Ajmer Sangeet Parishad (1945), Harvallabh Sangeet Mela in Jalandhar (1958). In 1938, he visited South Africa for a music concert tour, also. He was a regular broadcaster from Bombay Radio Service from 1942.

After India’s independence in 1947, Keshavrao reopened ‘Balkrishna Sangeet Vidyalay’ which was founded by his father. In 1950, he left Ichalkaranji and settled down in Pune and started his own music school, which was inaugurated by great educationist Maharshri Dhondo Keshav Karve. From 1950 till his death, i.e. 1965, he was contributing as a Guru in Pune and also worked as a chief examiner for music exams held by Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalay Mandal and Bharatiya Sangeet Prasarak Mandali. For his contribution as Guru, he was awarded with a special prize at Kolhapur conference of Gandharva Mahavidyalay in 1961.

Besides a vocalist and a Guru, Pandit Keshavrao Ingale’s contribution as a musicologist is very important. His first book ‘Gokhale Gharane Ki Gayaki’ (1935) shed light on the history and musical repertoire of the vanishing Gokhale Gharana in Maharashtra. His second book ‘Pandit Gayanacharya Balkrishnabuwa Ichalkaranjikar Yanche Charitra’ (1936) is the most authentic biography of Pandit Ichalkaranjikar and can be pointed out as a most significant biographical works in Hindustani Art music. His third and last book ‘Geet Bodhini’ (1954) was very important as it provides hundreds of traditional Khayal lyrics in Brij dialect with proper meaning and correction of corrupted words. Besides these three books, he also wrote several articles in journals such as ‘Sangeet Kala Vihar’ which are very enlightening.

His musical lineage is carried forward by his son Madhav Ingale and grandson Milind Ingale.