The Adventurous Life of a Tagman

by Nitoo Das

Dec 16, 2014

“Boredom may be the reason behind most creation myths. I was born during an invigilation duty in December. This quaint term “invigilation” invokes images of relentless waiting even as young people in a closed room fill up pages of irrelevant information. Tags, I will let you know, are vital to Indian examinations; invigilators give them to students so that many loose sheets of pages swarming with words can be carefully tied to make meaning. While on one such wait, my treasury tags came together.

“Knotted, I arose from the desk. Tagman — myself! — with floppy legs and curious hair, was born! I looked out at the silent room–silent except for the scraping of pens on paper–I was meant for great things. My life and adventures would, undoubtedly, make a striking and unforgettable narrative. You will get to know them through the photographs of my trusty assistant. She, whom I won’t name, clicks with her tablet to record my life for posterity. Each monochrome image shows one of my richly allusive tales. Yes, I am sensitive and well-read, I am a bit of a loner and I have some eccentric habits. But I am a hero and heroic habits, like boredom, must be forgiven…”