Indian languages are so decentralized and diverse primarily because of the traditions of the predominant religion– Hinduism. Unlike the Abrahamic religions, Hinduism never really had a central text or rigid practices. Yes, there were the Vedas, the Puranas, and countless mythological stories and epics, but they cannot be compared with the Bible, Torah, or Quran.
Hinduism is one of the oldest religions in the world, and it is often referred to as more of a philosophy, a way of life, rather than a religion. Due to its age and influence over the entire subcontinent of India, far before the arrival of much foreign influence, Hinduism was most likely more of an oral practice. Stories were passed down through families, lessons about life and universal mysteries were discussed, myths about the natural world and explanations of the unknown were debated; all of this long before the Vedic period.
All of this is to say that due to the oral nature of ancient Hinduism, everybody practices the religion differently. Aside from the vague philosophies at the core of Hinduism, not too much unified all the Believers until the later part of Indian history. As there was no central text, rigid practices, or much missionary work, languages were able to evolve separately.
Compared to the emergence of Arabic and the Islamic world, which can be credited to the teachings of the Quran in Arabic, along with missionary work, usually also taught in Arabic. Hinduism, on the other hand, didn't have one text or one language unifying all its believers. Myths and practices were passed down orally in the vernacular languages of certain regions, thus allowing for linguistic independence and the flourishing of both Sanskrit and Dravidian languages. Thus, despite being in the same geographical area, Indian languages are so incredibly different and remain linguistically separated centuries later.
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