The controversial book "Mother India" was authored by which writer?

Introduction / Context:
"Mother India" is a highly controversial book that criticised various aspects of Indian society during the colonial period. It became famous both for its arguments and for the strong reactions it provoked from Indian leaders and scholars. This question tests whether you know that the book was written by Katherine Mayo, not by Indian nationalists who responded to it or later scholars who analysed it.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The title "Mother India" refers to the early twentieth century polemical book.
• The options list people connected with debates about India, reform, and responses to the book.
• The question asks about the original author who produced the controversial work.
• Exactly one person listed actually wrote the book "Mother India".

Concept / Approach:
This is a books and authors question linked with colonial history. Katherine Mayo, an American writer, authored "Mother India". It criticised Indian social practices and was widely condemned by Indian nationalists. Other figures like Annie Besant and Lala Lajpat Rai were among those who opposed Mayo's views. Mrinalini Sinha and Jabez Sunderland wrote analyses and rebuttals, but not the original book. The approach is to remember which name appears as the author on the book itself and to distinguish that from critics and respondents.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that "Mother India" is a critical work on Indian society published during the colonial era. Step 2: Recall that the book was written by Katherine Mayo, an American author. Step 3: Examine the options. Annie Besant was a British born theosophist and Indian nationalist who strongly opposed the book. Step 4: Mrinalini Sinha is a modern historian who wrote scholarly studies on "Mother India" and its impact, but did not author the original text. Step 5: Lala Lajpat Rai was an Indian nationalist leader; he criticised colonial policies but is not credited with writing this particular book. Step 6: Jabez Sunderland wrote responses that defended India against Mayo's claims, not the initial work. Step 7: Therefore the only correct author of the book "Mother India" is Katherine Mayo.

Verification / Alternative Check:
Any standard reference on Indian history or post colonial studies will list "Mother India – Katherine Mayo". Additionally, histories of the Indian freedom movement regularly discuss how Gandhi and other leaders reacted to Mayo's book. They clearly identify her as the author, while naming others as critics or respondents. This consistent attribution confirms that Katherine Mayo must be selected in this question.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Annie Besant opposed the book and publicly condemned it, but she did not write "Mother India". Mrinalini Sinha is a historian who analysed the debate around the book in later scholarship, not its author. Lala Lajpat Rai was a prominent nationalist leader and writer, but his works have different titles. Jabez Sunderland wrote counter arguments defending India, yet he was not the author of the controversial original text.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to assume that a book named "Mother India" must have been written by an Indian nationalist such as Annie Besant or Lala Lajpat Rai. Another error is to confuse the original author with historians who later wrote about the controversy. To avoid such confusion, always connect the book's original publication context and remember that the criticism came from Indian and sympathetic Western writers, while the polemical text was produced by Katherine Mayo.

Final Answer:
The controversial book "Mother India" was authored by Katherine Mayo.