Crediting the editor

Young Amardeep takes on the challenge as guest editor at Time Out and delivers an impressive issue, writes FARZANA

SHAKIR

coveted position. Finally, out of the seven shortlisted candidates he was declared the winner, claiming the prize of a Merlin Family Annual Pass: 12 months unlimited entry to 11 top Australian and New Zealand attractions including Sea Life, Sydney Aquarium, Wild Life, Sydney Zoo, Madame Tussaud’s and Sydney Tower Eye. He also won a family pass to see the musical The Addams Family with a backstage tour and an opportunity to meet the cast. And this was in addition to the privilege of editing Time Out Sydney.

So what impressed the judges most about him?

winning the guest editor’s position, Amardeep was invited to the Time Out office to look at the magazine, meet the staff and chair a meeting to discuss the front cover of the magazine.

“Over the next couple of weeks, Joel asked me to write my own article titled ‘Amardeep’s Top Picks’- about kids menus in a selection of different restaurants, an Editor’s letter introducing myself to go in the first page of the magazine, rank the ‘Top 13 things to do before you are 13’ list, add my own ideas and check the whole magazine before it went to print,” explained Amardeep, outlining his role as the guest editor.

“I think my idea of kids’ food in restaurants was original as they (the judges) hadn’t thought of that before. I had a very strong view on the kids’ menu, and eating out, which they liked”

At just 9, Amardeep Gill has achieved a feat many can only dream of. He has become Australia’s youngest editor by bagging the spot of guest editor for Time Out Sydney magazine. To coincide with the July school holidays, Time Out was looking to create a kids’ edition, and ran a competition for a child guest editor.

Year 4 student Amardeep found out about the competition through his mum who heard about it on ABC radio.

He told Indian Link how he went about entering the contest.

“I completed an application form on the Time Out website.

I had to tell them about myself, my favourite foods, what I liked doing in my spare time, about my local area, and who I would like to interview most – I wrote down Anh Do. Unfortunately he is out of the country and I was unable to interview him. Once shortlisted, I had to attend an interview with Time Out editor Joel Meares and kids’ editor Emma Joyce at their office in Glebe”.

Amardeep competed against dozens of aspirants for the

“I think my idea of kids’ food in restaurants was original as they (the judges) hadn’t thought of that before. I had a very strong view on the kids menu, and eating out, which they liked. They were also impressed with what I was wearing (mustard slacks and checked button down shirt). They thought that Anh Do was an interesting choice for an interview. They also liked the idea that I enjoyed doing quite a few things around my local area and the city, for example, bush walking, nature trails, and visiting the Maritime Museum and Art Gallery of New South Wales. I also enjoy going to the theatre and watching live sports like soccer and cricket,” Amardeep answered articulately.

When he received the phone call informing him of his success, Amardeep could not believe his ears. “I was jumping up and down in joy. I couldn’t believe that I had been chosen for this fantastic opportunity. I had to phone dad and my grandparents immediately,” he recalled. A couple of weeks after

His stint at Time Out Sydney started on June 4 and by June 8 he was editing emails, continuing to work tirelessly until the magazine was published. Amardeep’s time on the editing team ended on a high note with an interview on Channel 7’s morning show on June 26, to announce the publication of the special children’s issue.

Asked to sum up his experience as a guest editor of Time Out Sydney, Amardeep reflected, “I found the job to be a lot of fun, even though I had to do quite a bit of work. It was an interesting and exciting experience. The team was very welcoming, organised and friendly. They were also quite funny and when it ended I was really, really sorry to go because working with them was just so great!”

Now that the children’s issue is out, Amardeep feels it has been “a huge success”.

“Everyone wants to know what a kid has to say about Sydney; the restaurant article especially attracting a lot of interest. Everybody who has seen it is very proud. Lots of my friends and teachers have bought copies, and found it good to use during the school holidays”. suddenly transformed into an epic town from the imperial age, as the stately chariot thundered along the streets of Liverpool with thousands of enthusiasts crusading and chanting alongside it.

Speaking of the reaction of family and friends on his success, Amardeep said, “they were as happy as me, and were very proud of me. My teacher announced it in the school newsletter, and showed my class. My classmates watched me on TV and gave me a standing ovation when I got back”. He enjoyed the experience so much that Amardeep wishes for a similar opportunity again. His passion for writing makes Amardeep want to consider becoming an author or a journalist when he grows up, or maybe even an editor!

The majestic chariot looked like it had actually descended from heaven with abstract images of the idols sparkling with decorative flowers, balloons and colourful lanterns. According to a metaphor in the holy Upanishad, the chariot represents the body, and the soul is the deity inside the chariot. Wisdom acts as the charioteer that controls the mind and its thoughts.

The experience was enthralling for all present as disciples vied with each other to pull the ropes attached to the chariot, in an earnest endeavour to exemplify their belief that this journey would earn them a passage to heaven. Vedic scriptures state that anyone who sees Lord Jagannatha or pulls His chariot achieves immense spiritual benefit, attaining liberation from the material world and entrance into the eternal blissful pastimes of the Lord.

The chariot made its way around the city centre of Liverpool attracting the attention of many onlookers who joined the parade. The strains of ‘Hare Rama Hare Krishna’ resounded as disciples sang or played a variety of musical instrument including the accordion, cymbals, drums and clappers.

After the holy tour, the chariot returned to the park in time for the cultural aspect of the event, via a series of stage performances by young volunteers. The entertainment maintained a flow of spirituality and included a soulful devotional song by Mayuri and group, a Bharatnatyam performance by Malobika Bale, and an Odissi and Bharatnatyam fusion dance by Neha and Radhika on a special song written by Adi Sankaracharya for Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. A skit was also presented by the Hare Krishna Glenfield Group, relating to the story of Lord Jagannath’s appearance on earth. This was followed by distribution of prasad as all present enjoyed lunch.

The VIP guests were impressed with the response showed by the community that included a mix of different cultures. Present were Hon Ned Mannoun, Mayor Liverpool City Council; Hon Paul Lynch, MLA; Hon Craig Kelly, MP; Hon Chris Hayes, MP; Dr Andrew McDonald, MLA; Hon Bryan Doyle, MLA; and Councillors Wendy Waller and Geoff Shelton.

In his address, Mr Hayes said, “We are joining 200 countries around the globe today to celebrate this festival and it is something we should be proud of. It is also time we acknowledge and celebrate what Indians have achieved in Australia.”

The Festival of Chariots has become an annual event in the Liverpool community calendar since the past nine years, with its roots originating from the city of Puri in India. On this special day, Lord Jagannath, Lord of the Universe, comes out of his shrine on a chariot to offer darshan (sight) to all devotees, to the accompaniment of Balabhadra and Subhadra. In an attempt to spread the splendour of the chariot festival, over the last thirty years, Ratha-Yatra has been introduced in many cities around the world including New York, London and Sydney, by ISKCON’s founder Srila Prabhupada and his followers.

The aim of the festival in Sydney is to increase awareness of Indian culture and art, and to showcase its rich heritage and tradition.

The festival truly portrayed the spirit of multicultural Australia as everyone united together to hail the spirit of happiness and unity in the single tone of ‘Hare Rama Hare Krishna’. Kudos to ISKON for organizing the holy tour.