I will try to explain my views in two parts. One before the conquest of political Islam and the other before the arrival of the British in Indian Subcontinent.
Well, this is often claimed by nationalist Historians that India was a rich, affluent country before the advent of Turks and the Ghaznavides. But they repeatedly fail to assert their claim when faced by the challenges based upon the contemporary literary and travel accounts of Kalhana, Al Beruni, Babbar, Puspananda or Hemachandra Maladharisuri. The nationalist historians even fails to conquer the fact the before the advent of Islam, Indian society was based upon a feudal structure and the majority of the agrarian society were the poor peasants who were exploited and dominated by their feudal lords, greedy priests and cunning merchant classes. What I am saying is nothing of my own but depending on the contemporary sources.
Secondly, I do not understand what do you meant by the west suddenly started inventing right after they arrived in India. The Mughal administrative system was exploiting in nature and and it did no good to the commoners.But this was a continuation of the age old political and economic tradition which started long before during the end of Classical/Golden age of Guptas because the Afghan sultanate, the Mughals or the British kept the basic system of social and political governance of India practically unaltered.
Yes, you made a difference. It was an extraordinary effort from your part. Me and my family are connected with the Ramakrishna Mission since a long time, but the letter from the PMO had something different in it.
