India’s declaration as a polio-free nation marks a historic public health success, yet it obscures the lived realities of those permanently affected before eradication. This documentary photography project explores the aftermath, where progress coexists with social and economic inequality.

At its centre is Shailendra Yadav, a 40-year-old wheelchair cricketer from Bhopal, India, who has represented his region and country. In a nation where cricket drives fame and opportunity, his journey reveals exclusion. Despite international participation, his livelihood remains fragile, highlighting the intersection of disability, class, and limited institutional support.

In black-and-white dark visuals, the series avoids spectacle, focusing instead on preparation, waiting, travel, and everyday life. The wheelchair becomes a normalised presence—an extension of routine rather than a symbol. Grainy textures mirror instability and endurance, reflecting the socio-economic conditions of many polio survivors in India.

“After the Applause” questions the idea of inclusion and asks what remains after public health victories fade. What does representation mean without sustainability?

This ongoing photo essay situates one life within a broader reality, challenging viewers to rethink progress as lived experience rather than declaration.