MPSC topper succumbs to burns, dreamt of becoming an IPS officer like her “role model” Meeran Borwankar

The family then got in touch with Deputy Chief Minister’s office. ”An officer in the DCM’s office helped us establish contact with Bowankar. We told Borwankar how she (Ashwini) was closely following her for years and wanted to become a stern and honest officer like her. We told Borwankar how she was an inspiration for Ashwini, who would like to meet her and get her guidance. Borwankar promised her that they will meet once Ashwini recovers,” said Vishal.

A day after their conversation, Ashwini’s condition turned critical. She was shifted from a private hospital in Moshi to Dr D Y Patil Hospital, Pimpri. After two days in the intensive care unit of the hospital, Ashwini passed away. ”The doctors treating her told us that her infection had become severe and uncontrollable and therefore they could not save her life,” said Kedari.

On August 28, Ashwini, a resident of Palu village in Khed taluka of Pune district, suffered severe burns after hot water fell on her at her home. ”Ashwini had placed a heater in a bucket around 10pm on that fateful day and dozed off. When she woke up past midnight, she noticed that the water was boiling. While turning off the heater, she slipped and fell in the bathroom. In the process, the water spilled on her. She suffered 80 per cent burns,” said Vishal.

For a week when was admitted to the Moshi hospital, Ashwini looked as if she would recover. ”She used to have juice and would converse with anyone who came to meet her,” said Vishal.

Ashwini, who had cleared the PSI exam in 2023, had not formally joined the service. ”She was yet to undergo training. After the training, she was slated to join as police sub-inspector. In the meantime, she was preparing for UPSC exam as she aspired to become an IPS officer like Meeran Borwankar…I always found her reading books, newspapers or watching debates on television,” Vishal said.

Her father Baburao Kedari said, ”My daughter always dreamt big. She was hoping to join the state service as a police sub-inspector. She was also preparing hard for UPSC exam. She wanted to become a Police Commissioner. She always topped in her school exams. We sold some of our land to fund her mechanical engineering and then backed her for her MPSC and UPSC exams. We come from a poor background but that did not stop us from encouraging Ashwini to pursue her dream. We never thought she would go so suddenly…”

Ashwini was a meritorious student from school days. ”In Class 10, she had secured 93 per cent. After her class 12, she wanted to become a doctor but then got admission into engineering,” recalled Vishal.

Paying tributes to her, Sitaram Gaikwad, former sarpanch of the village, said, ”Ashwini had made our village famous in Maharashtra. When she cleared the PSI exam, she was the first girl from our village to achieve the remarkable success.”

Recalling the time when the news of her clearing the PSI exam broke out, Gaikwad said, ”The entire village was delighted…we celebrated her success with enthusaism. There were banners congratulating her put up across the village by politicians and activists. We also took out a procession in her honour.”

Gaikwad said Ashwini belonged to a farmer’s family. ”The family is poor…but they backed Ashwini to the hilt as she pursued her studies.