Shashank Verma India

A photograph of a group of people sitting and meditating by the river Ganges, their lower halves submerged in the water. Boats are anchored by the river in the background.

Shashank Verma is a photographer from the coastal Indian town of Dahanu, whose work is deeply immersed in the exploration of identity, diaspora, and post-colonialism. We featured his project “Traces of Survivance,” which captures the city of Varanasi—often considered India’s spiritual home—and its people, as they strive to celebrate their cultural legacy in the face of the lasting impact of colonialism.