Great points, all, Dant.  All that is except for the one about the special attention India's gotten from God and the gods.  For it is written -- and said, apparently -- that the west has a very long material leg but a very short spiritual one, whereas India has a very long SPIRITUAL leg and a very short material one.  See?

You know, I'm not suggesting you try to make your wife feel foolish about this or anything.  It's really not her fault.  Not everyone knows this, even some smart, educated people.  But, yeah, that was something we all learnt years ago.  I guess it might even qualify as ancient wisdom or something.