Prof. Waman Keshav Lele (29-May-1933 - 13-Feb-2007) was a noted scholar of Marathi and Sanskrit Literature.
He was born and brought up in Mumbai, India. After earning his bachelor degree in Arts with honours from Bombay University,
he pursued his Masters degree in Marathi in which he ranked first in the University, and was awarded NC Kelkar gold medal. He started his
academic career as a lecturer at SNDT University and later moved to Banaras Hindu University where he spent most of his career.
Prof. Lele earned his Ph.D. from University of Pune. His thesis named "Bharatiya Kavyashastrachi Utkranti" is considered as a
monumental work in literary criticism.
Prof. Lele was an ardent researcher. His research interest varied from Ancient Indian Literary Criticism, Western Stylistics, Medieval Marathi Poetry, Modern Marathi Prose, Methodology of Composition and Interpretation of Ancient Indian Scientific Treatises, and Transformational Generative Grammar. During his life he wrote 29 scholarly books and 140 research papers. He earned several awards from the Maharashtra State Government, Universities, and Educational Institutions for his valuable contribution to literature. Prof. Lele spent his retired life in Pune. He was actively engaged in research till his last breath!