Humans of RESQ: Balendra Singh Parihar

Our Genie in a RESQ T-Shirt, Balendra Singh Parihar, fondly known as Balan, is known to be one of the most dependable humans of RESQ. Originally from Chhatarpur, in Madhya Pradesh, Balan while looking for a job, fatefully stumbled upon an opportunity to work at RESQ as a temporary replacement. Since that day in 2015, Balan has been a constant at RESQ and literally works alongside every team member on several fronts as the Centre Supervisor.

Working together with like-minded individuals towards reducing the pain, suffering and conflict felt by all living beings is what motivates and drives him to be better and do better every day. He believes at RESQ he has found his calling and doesn’t let any obstacles stand in his way, be it negotiating with a vendor to get the best possible price for animal feed or helping create an animal enclosure from scratch under a high-pressure deadline.

Balan also holds himself responsible for the maintenance of all the RESQ Centre resources. Using his photographic memory he catalogues where every article is to be found and stored, from the biggest animal enrichment perch to the smallest screw. He is incredibly meticulous about the tasks he holds himself accountable for, which means that he is the last one checking if every gate and enclosure is locked and that every inessential electrical switch is turned off.

He insists that the RESQ Team is his family and the familial camaraderie he shares with his colleagues makes Pune feel like home, not the village he grew up in. Those close to him know him to be a poet and a riddler, who also is an absolute pro himself at solving riddles and puzzles of all kinds. He lives for cricket and no nighttime routine of his is complete without watching at least an hour of ‘Taarak Mehta ka Ooltah Chashmah’.

The statement he absolutely lives by is, “Give everything your 100%”

When asked what animal he would’ve liked to be, pat comes the reply with a twinkle in his eyes, “Sher. Lion”.