I don't know if that can be considered a humiliation. India was not a unified country when the British colonized it. The closest non-British era that India was "unified" was the Mughal Empire. But its general consensus that the Mughal Empire is not considered "Indian". Nevertheless Indians in general don't seem to consider the British colonial era as 200 years of "humiliation". They were even proud of that "British heritage".
It's certainly true what you said about India is not a unify entity prior to the British colonial rule. In fact, the British made much of this to divide and rule the sub-continent. Imagine a country the size of Britain ruled a land mass of continental size today? It's not going to happen. But Britain did back them and made it their "Crown Jewel" and Queen Victoria their empress, even though she remain just Queen of Great Britain.
But the point I was making because I didn't wanted to go too far off topic is that;
Although India was not a single entity, it is nonetheless a conquered people subjugated to British empire rules for 200 years. This humiliation alone should drive them to better themselves just like Chinese does after throwing off the shackles of imperialism.
But like you said, instead they look back with nostalgia rose-tinted glasses of the glorious British empire days that they 'help to built'. (For example, the majority of Indians in Hong Kong now are descended from the British Indian forces taking there to enforced British colonial rules on us native Hong Kong people).
Unless this attitude change, I think India is forever stuck in their position as a superpower wannabe.
