Online edition of Sunday Observer - Business: "There is no dearth of patriots. Browse through any newspaper or media bulletin. You could spot several leads where the patriots figure prominently. Everybody talks about the nation, building the nation, resurrecting the nation etc., etc. 'National' is a common prefix. Paradoxically, however, there is also preference for the foreign. Whether it is toothpaste, soap or sanitary towels the Number One choice among many, especially the city folk is for foreign brands. Take any consumer item variety, the rush is for the foreign stuff. Locally produced stuff is considered to be below par, at best mediocre. Take education. The craze is for International schools and the foreign syllabi. Take language. English is revered as the lingua franca. Those who could smatter a few English words and phrases could lord over the less fortunate vernacular mouthed populace. In this age of the knowledge society they could even outclass the literati if the latter is swabhasha educated. "
