This is what google shows when I searched - "When was India the richest country in the world?".
India has a long history of wealth and prosperity, dating back to ancient times when it was a major center for trade and commerce. It has advanced civilizations like the Indus Valey Civilisation, which dates back to around 3300 - 1300 BCE. India was known for its wealth and trade networks during the Maurya and Gupta empires, and who can forget the Chola Dynasty which existed between the 3rd and 12th centuries CE.
I realised how far history has been altered by these left liberandus to such an extent that we native Indians are made to think that we were just a pile of dust who knew nothing and we were enlightened by these foreign invaders who came from mere desserts and turned us into a pile of gold and silvers.
This just needs a little logic to understand that if someone comes from outside to make things better here then they themselves need resources for the same. What do you expect from people who were in dessert to bring in to the land which experiences all 4 seasons, have all major landforms ranging from mountains, land, dessert, seas and ocean.
I was watching one discussion on CAA/NRC, in which a muslim leader asked someone in the audience if you have so many problems with Muslims and why you eat biryani so fondly which is a dish created by Mughals. The concerned person from the audience just asked: "What are the constituents of a biryani? Spices, Rice and Ghee. Spices were only found in India during that time. Rice needs water to grow and desserts are deprived of water, and Ghee can only be made using milk of buffaloes and cows. We know that Camels are only found in desserts and ghee can't be made using their milk."
P.S. - My point is India was always greatest and rich in traditions be it in any form until these foriegn invaders came in destroyed everything and anything they could and then leaving us beleiving that they helped us come out of darkness.