A History of Richness!

Trivia question - How many Indians are among the World's top 10 richest people??
Actually, in the current stock market scenario, none (excluding Lakshmi Mittal, who made his wealth elsewhere - he's at No.5)
Coming to History now, We've always known that India has been the richest nation in the World, prior to the looting which started many Centuries ago. Even after civilisation after civilisation has ravaged our nation, it still was VERY rich by the time Britishers took over the nation.
Now, i'm not writing here about Politics, but about Pure Wealth.
Forbes took up an experiment. It studied the entire history from Roman Senate right upto Bill Gates and compiled an all-time list of the wealthiest people in the world. Of course, the list has had it's critics, but then, how can someone be expected to assess the value of inflation exactly across Thousands of years??
But, Forbes has managed to do a splendid job and just browsing thru the list is Education! There is so much history in it's pages, you actually feel dwarfed!
Take a look at Forbes Wealthiest Historical Figures
Coming back to India, here's the moment of pride for all Indians. Look at Person No.5 on that list. Look and come back.
Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII, the Nizam of Hyderabad has been put up as the all time wealthiest man number 5 in the world!! That should tell us something right! The Last Nizam of Hyderabad, he was on the cover of Time Magazine as the richest man in the world during the 1940s and 1950s. In fact, it is this man, who used the famous 185 Carat Jacob Diamond as a paper-weight!! (By God!)
Bill Gates is No.20 and Mukesh Ambani is No.40 on that list! So, pretty good going for them too!
When you have the time, you must go thru that list in detail. It takes us thru the annals of wealth since Civilisation started in the world. And that in itself is such an en'rich'ing experience!!