India's Economic Reality Over 2,000 Years Less Rosy Than Portrayed by Right-Wing Groups, Historian Says

India's economic condition was far less flattering over the last 2,000 years than the "golden bird" portrayal by the Sangh Parivar, says Swaminathan Aiyar

GDP per capita remained unchanged at a "shockingly low" $450 during the 1,000 year "Hindu period"

Population stagnated and life was "brutally short" in the "Hindu period"

India's high share of global GDP in 1 AD flowed from higher population, not prosperity

Historians may highlight glories of emperors, but masses remained desperately poor for 2 millennia