India is not 'so poor'. However, we are poor cos of members of political party(ies)/ business houses, govt. servants, most of whom have siphoned off the money to swiss banks which is roughly estimated to be enough to buy entire Australia, lock, stock and barrel, 7 times...:) And so no blame to Britishers. If all that money can be brought back (impossible though), India would be in the league of richest countries in the world...:) Until then we sure are a poor country and may remain so.