What Is Wrong With India

“What is Wrong with India” (1942) by Sir Albion Rajkumar Banerji is a critical and introspective commentary on India under late colonial rule. Drawing on his vast experience as an administrator in princely states, Banerji examines the structural, social and political faults holding back India—most notably the neglect of mass education, widespread poverty, weak institutional governance, and disconnect between rulers and the governed. With trenchant wit and clear prose, he exposes bureaucratic inefficiencies and advocates for broader reform, ethical leadership, and bridging the gulf between the elite and the common people.