Anthropologists indulge in the study of human beings and their ancestors through time and space and in relation to physical character, environmental and social relations and culture. It is an in-depth look into Homo sapiens. While by no stretch of imagination anywhere close to the technical detail that anthropology goes into, or or research that is required, personally, I have found, equally if not more fascinating, the process of observing human beings at a busy airport while you are waiting to board a flight. I am sure the experience is something that resonates with you and you have been through many a time.

In all the hustle and bustle that is the quintessential modern day airport, the spectrum of moods, motivations and the mania that is on exhibit is truly phenomenal.

Kaleidoscopic Vistas
Travelers in a busy airport belong to a  virtual cornucopia of ages, colors, costumes, moods, sizes, shapes not to mention lugging an equally stunning plethora of materialistic possessions. It is akin to the kaleidoscope with its fresh, dazzling whirl of color combinations at every turn and passing moment. For instance, there is the cute, chubby toddler having the luxury of being carried around whose senses are alert and who is wondering (with that wide eyed, wise look that only children can achieve!) what the commotion is all about. Then there is the petulant kid who is digging his heels in, even as the exasperated, desperate mom is trying to yank him forward possibly because their flight has begun boarding. The youngster finally gives up as he sees the mother looming in readiness to whack him into submission.

Nearby and plonked right in the middle of the passage way is a romantic couple lost to the world and its chaos (at least within the confines of the airport building), lips locked in an indefinite freeze and gazing into one another's eyes with mesmeric pleasure. Passengers were moving around these two romantics who had created an island for themselves. Time stood still for these two, it appeared. There was also the aging couple, with the craggy faced man using a walking stick to keep himself steady while his petite partner of a similar age clung to his arm. The expression on their faces, while not exactly a grimace came quite close to it. They were really not liking this maelstrom of activity and were keen on boarding the flight soonest and be rid of the sea of humanity around.

The Baggage Drama
Equally as diverse as the human beings is the bewildering variety of baggage being trundled around. On the one hand was the, light as a feather, baggage of travelers who were barely carrying anything at all and apparently enjoying the freedom greatly. On the other hand was the unwieldy pile of monstrous luggage items of a huge family who must have had at least two pieces of baggage for each member and heavy items at that considering the effort they were putting into dragging those around.

And then of course there were the daintier bags themselves, light bags, duffel bags, tote bags, carry bags, heft bags, sling bags, shoulder bags not to mention their illustrious cousins, the back packs of every color, size, shape and preference.

Of course, you could never miss the huge suitcases (barely getting past the cabin baggage dimensions) that are hauled around (there was no way these monstrosities could be lifted without your spine splintering) and if you happened to be the unlucky individual in the immediate vicinity, ridden over your feet - ouch! (thank god for those choosing to wear thick sports shoes or sneakers).  But since the harried traveler towing that gargantuan thing was up front and could not care less for obstacles that came in the way of the item following behind, he or she was blissfully unaware of the pain and agony they had just caused (if they had keen ears, they would certainly have heard the sulfuric curses!). Yes, baggage is a class by itself in airport precincts. It is testimony to our affinity for materialistic things and objects.

The Glass Eyed Future Generation
In all this multitude of human beings, there is a unique category from the younger age group who turn into transfixed zombies in this melange of movement. These are our game enthusiasts who have their nose plastered to the display of their tablets, consoles, massive smart phone and the like while squinting at the frenetic whirl of digital activity coming up on their screens even as their thumbs and fingers play staccato on the keyboards. They are in this trance for hours together and if not for the frowning parent or conscientious sibling who remind first and then exhort them to come out of their reverie in time to board their aircraft they may well miss their designated flights.

Gaming is not only a multi billion dollar industry but one which is producing glass eyed youth who forsake not just the rest of the world but also in some extreme cases even their studies and education preferring to be glued to the gaming screen. In a large number of cases, apart from losing their natural eye sight and donning spectacles at a very tender age, they also display remarkable symptoms of attention deficit. If this obsessive activity is not bridled appropriately, these youth end up becoming permanently wayward.

In this digital age it will also not be out of place to see three and four year olds fall prey to the obsession of video and other games almost twenty four hours a day. This often results in these kids eschewing outdoor activity and becoming couch potatoes. Many of them become socially inept due to almost no interaction with peers or other human beings. The price to be paid in the internet age. A rather worrisome scenario!

Imagine, if this is the sample of the human race that you get to see in just one confined space, your faith in the veracity of the Malthusian theory of population may be resurrected. Until then though, bask in the pounding your senses are subjected to.

Let me leave you with this suggestion.