Pune: Ajinkya Jounjal's journey to becoming Vanpuri's first Police Sub-Inspector (PSI) is a testament to resilience and determination. Faced with family disputes, his mother left their home with one-year-old Ajinkya and moved to her parents' house in Vanpuri.

There, his grandparents and uncles took care of him. Despite the loss of his grandfather during his college years and his mother's leg surgery, Ajinkya persevered.

His uncle Prakash Jagtap, who had provided shelter, also passed away. Nonetheless, his aunt Kavita Jagtap decided to support him, vowing to raise him as her own. With encouragement from his family, Ajinkya continued his education and eventually decided to pursue competitive exams.

Ajinkya’s native village is Baburdi, Shirur Taluka, but he grew up in Pune, where his father worked as a State Transport conductor. After his parents' separation, he and his mother moved to Vanpuri, leaving his sister behind.

Ajinkya excelled in his 10th-grade exams and completed his college education at Waghire College in Saswad. Determined to succeed, he attempted the PSI exam after his 12th grade but initially struggled.

His mother worked at a private hospital to support him, but the family faced financial difficulties following the death of his grandfather and uncle and his mother’s surgery.

Despite these challenges, Ajinkya studied using library resources and, after failing twice, succeeded on his third attempt to become a PSI. The village of Vanpuri celebrated his achievement with a grand procession and congratulations.