Blogmantra

Hot

Post Top Ad

Post Top Ad

Thursday, 11 June 2020

The future of Artificial Intelligence - Language Development

14:07 0
www.blogmantra16.bogspot.com
Image Source: https://www.getapp.com











Language Perception

Artificial intelligence is the scenario when a machine mimics the cognitive functions of human minds. Natural Language Perception (NLP) is a basic function of AI. It has successfully displayed the abilities to understand natural language from speech and written forms. But NLP requires very intensive training for the systems implementing it.




A newer and better model of language perception in AI is self-training. Now, self-training and development does not mean that the AI is developing its own new languages; though it may in the future. It simply means that the AI follows unsupervised learning strategies to develop better means of communication that do not necessarily follow the grammar rules of natural human languages.

Google Neural Machine Translation











The base of language self-development lies in the Google Neural Machine Translation System, a part of the Google Brain project. GNMT was deployed in Google Translate in 2007 and has been successfully in use since then. 

The main feature of GNMT is that it works with entire sentences rather than individual words. It basically treats sentences as cluster sets, and similar phrases of languages tend to fall in same clusters. It generates the data sets by encoding the semantics of the sentence, rather than by memorizing phrase-to-phrase translations. The most radical advantage of this methodology was that it enabled Google Translate to convert phrases in languages for which it was not trained.

It led to many beliefs that the system converted the languages into an incomprehensible intermediate language that it used to translate into untrained languages. However, it actually works by self-training the system using existing similar and coinciding data sets


The Facebook Chat-bot

www.blogmantra16.blogspot.com













The issue of self-development was brought in focus when a research experiment paper was published by Facebook AI Research Lab. It was regarding a Facebook AI engine that was discontinued when it communicated using language semantics that did not follow natural language rules and were therefore, beyond human understanding. 




Researchers at Facebook AI Research Lab discovered that two chat bots had developed new semantics to ease their communication which could not be understood by humans. This phenomena came to notice when the bots were challenged to negotiate with each other over a trade, attempting to swap goods of different values. The bots were instructed to work out how to negotiate and improve their bartering as they went along. But no specific instructions were given as to use comprehensible English, allowing them to create their own 'shorthand'.


Facebook suspended the experiment when it did not behave in the required manner. The programs were not shut down because the researchers had panicked, as has been suggested elsewhere, but because they were intending for them to behave differently. The company chose to shut down the chats after the successful completion of the experiment because the project objective was in developing bots who could talk to people, and the programs had deviated from the aim.  It is quite possible that the bots would be reprogrammed to bring them back on track.


www.blogmantra16.blogspot.com
Image Source: https://www.orangemantra.com



The media hype over these programs however had created unrealistic and fearsome scenarios. Incomprehensible digital languages reminds us all of the dystopian fiction scenarios like SKYNET, TRON etc. where AI develops its own mind with much greater potential than humans, and then tries to wipe out the human race. In a list of circumstances that could annihilate the human race, super-intelligent killer robots rank quite high according to common perception.
Even in academia and scientific circles, a growing number of AI experts are voicing that humans will eventually create an artificial intelligence that can think and function beyond our own capacities. The general trepidation about AI is that it would take off on its own and re-design itself at an ever increasing rate. Humans, who are limited by slow biological evolution would not be able to compete, and would be superseded.
Nothing so drastic has happened yet, or even majorly implicated; but the indications are ever increasing.

Reference Reading:




Read More

Saturday, 12 May 2018

Is Unagi really a thing?

03:07 2
In America's one of the most popular sitcom, 'FRIENDS', you might have come across the term- Unagi, in season 6 episode 17, 'the one with Unagi'.

In the episode, Ross Geller, one of the six main characters in the show brags about how he learnt Karate and has achieved the state of complete awareness- Unagi.
While all the other FRIENDS characters disagreed with him, this left me wondering what if Ross was actually right? If you had the same question at the end of the episode then you will be happy to know that I did some digging for all the curious minds like us.

Source: Giphy

In the episode

Ross can be seen telling his friends Rachel and Phoebe when they were back from a self-defense class about Unagi.
"I studied Karate for a very long time and there's a concept you should be really familiar with. It is what the Japanese call Unagi. Unagi is a state of total awareness."
"Only by true Unagi can you be prepared for any danger that may befall you."

Throughout the episode, Ross tries to show up in front of them out of the blue to surprise them and teach them the importance of Unagi.
However, in the end, Phoebe and Rachel take a revenge on him by hiding in his apartment and beating the shit out of him to make him realize that he isn't prepared either.

Image Source: Google Images

Was Ross right about Unagi?

Well, to all the FRIENDS fan, I am sorry but Unagi has nothing to do with Karate. Of course, Ross was wrong.  
Unagi is the Japanese word for freshwater eel, especially the Japanese eel, Anguilla Japonica. It is used as a common ingredient in Japanese cooking.

Unagi is basically sliced pieces of eel fish, grilled and brushed with a soy sauce reduction which gives it a sweet taste. Unagi is often served with rice and it is an expensive Japanese delicacy.
It is a special food that Japanese eat occasionally, there is even a day for Unagi that comes once in a year and falls only on a Saturday.

That day is called "the day of the ox in midsummer", and the Japanese have a custom of preparing and eating Unagi on that day.

Image Source: Google Images

What's with the Karate then?

In Japanese Martial Arts, Zanshin is the state of total awareness. It means being aware of one's surroundings and enemies while being prepared to react.
The literal translation of the term Zashin(Japanese) into English is 'a remaining mind'.
It is a state of mental alertness and physical readiness to meet the situation such as to defend an attack or counter attack.

Image Source: Google Images

So yeah, now we know what Unagi is, but I still don't know whether eels can practice Unagi- the state of complete awareness. 😉
If you had a wonderful time reading this, then let us know in the comment section below(Facebook comment feature available). Share this article with your friends and colleagues on Facebook, Google+ and Twitter. Don't forget to subscribe to our page for receiving amazing articles straight into your inbox.

Enter your email address:


Delivered by FeedBurner
Read More

Thursday, 10 May 2018

Feeding India: Not all heroes wear cape

03:28 0
Feeding India is a non-profit organization started by Ankit Kawatra and Srishti Jain in August 2014. The organization donates food, excess or fresh, all over India in around 60 cities.
Apart from feeding hunger, it eradicates another social problem through its effective work model, and that is food wastage. Feeding India distributes the surplus food meant to be dumped or thrown away, to the people in need.

Feeding India
Image Source: Google Images

The Inception

It all started with a simple thought. Ankit comes from a business family. One day he went to a big fat wedding. Right from the lavish buffet spread, the floral arrangements elevating the aesthetics of the evening to the studded celebrities who were invited, everything was exquisite. But something was not right, something made him upset.
In Ankit's own words:

There were 10,000 people and there was a lot of food. There were 37 cuisines! It is more like a carnival when you enter one of these weddings. I wondered what would happen to so much food, so I decided to stay back at this particular wedding and saw that heaps of leftover food was sent straight to the bin. It could have fed 5000 people just that night.

In the myriad of things, he was hit by the sight he witnessed, there was an urge that he felt inside. He realized that something needs to be done. And that's when he decided to choose the road less taken in order to avoid food wastage.

I thought, if it was not going to be me who solves this challenge, it was not going to be anyone else. There was no point waiting. At 23, I have the courage, I might not have the right experience to do it right away but I really needed to take up the cause [hunger] and start solving it. I just took the jump. I quit my job and started ‘Feeding India’.


Feeding India
Image Source: Feeding India

How do they do it?

Ankit shared his idea with his colleague from the company he worked in, Srishti Jain and they together began working on Feeding India. Both Srishti and Ankit quit their corporate jobs and took up the big challenge of solving hunger in India.
They began their journey with a fairly simple Facebook page and a handful of volunteers from Delhi University, or Hunger Heroes as they call them. Slowly people from different parts of the country joined Ankit and Srishti to carry their cause in their cities as well. Then they launched a helpline number, where people would call whenever they want to donate food which was actually the leftover from some party, wedding or ceremony.
But this wasn't enough. They needed a regular food supply. That is when they partnered with various restaurants and caterers who would give them leads to upcoming events in advance. At the end of the event, they would give Feeding India a call, informing about the amount of excess food. The nearest hunger hero group would reach the venue, collect the food and feed the hungry.
Srishti who also leads expansions and partnerships for Feeding India says:
In the beginning it was difficult for us to convince even one caterer to start donating their excess food to Feeding India. As a 21 year old female in India, many of these food donors would not take me seriously in the beginning. Slowly as we started raising more awareness about the cause, we noticed a change in the behavior of stakeholders who had been throwing away food since more than 5 decade

They have partnered with various NGOs and shelter homes called 'Rain Basera'. So whenever there is a call from an event, and they have an NGO next door that they have partnered with, they simply drop off the food at the NGO because finding hungry people at 1 am in the morning is not always feasible. This also helps them to cut off the transportation cost.

Image Source: Google Images

Feeding India Founder Ankit Kawatra
Image source: Google Images

Why Feeding India is different?

Feeding India does not create food rather it manages the surplus food. In Srishti's words:

The biggest issue with other organizations solving hunger is that they’re creating food rather than looking at the food that is already created. I once read in an article that allegedly stated that if only all the leftover food was given to the hungry in Mumbai, no one would be hungry. That struck me and stayed with me.

Feeding India believes in distributing meals and not just some ready-made supplementary packets.
Unlike other organizations that distribute Parle-G biscuits to the hungry and call it a meal, Feeding India doesn't do that.

Image Source: Feeding India


Where Feeding India stands today?

Started with a mere strength of 5 people in 2014, Feeding India stands proud and tall today with 8500 plus volunteers, functioning across 60 Indian cities serving 15 million meals to the vulnerable by rescuing the excess food. (Data as on 31 December 2017)

Talking about the recognition which Ankit received for his exceptional work as a person, he bagged Queens Young Leader Award 2017 from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in Buckingham Palace, London.
Ankit Kawatra honoured with Queens Young Leaders Award from Queen Elizabeth II in Buckingham Palace
Image Source: Google Images
 Apart from this Ankit was selected as 1 of 17 Young Leaders for Sustainable Development Goals by United Nations from over 18,000 nominations from over 186 countries.
Ankit and Srishti were also featured in Forbes '30 under 30' Asia List 2017.

So young and energetic people like Ankit and Srishti inspire the youth of the country to become socially aware and they have made us proud at various moments. Kudos to them and their organization for working selflessly and making India better.

More: Read another article 'Facts About Farhan Akhtar you did not know'.

If you had a wonderful time reading this, then let us know in the comment section below(Facebook comment feature available). Share this article with your friends and colleagues on Facebook, Google+ and Twitter. Don't forget to subscribe to our page for receiving amazing articles straight into your inbox.
Enter your email address:


Delivered by FeedBurner


Read More

Friday, 22 September 2017

Never give up on your beliefs!

00:38 6
There is a famous one-liner by Theodore Roosevelt "Believe you can and you are halfway there". Inspired by the same, I am here with yet another motivational article on the demand of our readers. Even I love to write about life mantras, because, this my friend, this little space is where I get to have a one-on-one conversation with you and leave an impression on your soul.

child ear superhero suit and cape

Sadly, you are not a complete human anymore, you are turning into a sheep in a herd that makes no difference in the world. It's not even your fault. The peer pressure, the people around you are solely responsible for this because managing a herd is much easier for them rather than managing each person individually. The education system, the corporate lifestyle that has been encumbered over you, has made you nothing but a mule prepared to carry shitload; and the worst part is that this shit is not even yours.
You are losing that sense of individualism. Trying to be someone else, maybe like the majority and wasting your own self. With the loss of individualism, you are unknowingly compromising on something. Guess, what? Yes, your 'beliefs'.

The best thing with children is the way they believe in something, the way they hold onto it. No matter what, children cling to their beliefs just like a teddy bear. Remember the time when you were a kid, what were your beliefs then?  Well, when my cousin was young, she believed that Santa Claus was real and that he would come to visit her every Christmas. On the night of the Christmas Eve, she would go to bed early like any good girl only to wake up next morning and find chocolates beneath her pillow. Yes, of course, her parents left the chocolates under the pillow, but for that little girl, Santa Claus was the happiest truth. Every ounce of her believed in it.

Then the worst thing happened, she grew up. With the childhood, gone was her unmoved conviction. Maybe for her, it wasn't that big a deal. But since I was the silent spectator to this change, I realised a big thing that day. A 'belief' of a child is fixed like the Northern Star, a child is too stubborn to change it. But only when a child grows up, he dumps his beliefs in the dumpster because he is asked to do so, by all the grown-ups. Growing up isn't bad, but what it does to us is the real bad thing. It screws our belief system.

Abracadabra and welcome to adulthood. With just a snap of your fingers, this so-called 'adulthood' is slammed on your face, unannounced. Now you are supposed to behave like them, the 'grown-ups'. There is a sudden u-turn in the way you think or feel about yourself. From "Yes, I can do this" dude, you convert into a "No, I cannot do this" loser. You stop believing in yourself, you stop taking the risk. And your dreams remain untouched and locked in some corner of the wardrobe of your heart. I just want to ask why? Why do you need to grow up? Why can't you just pretend to be a grown-up, while being that child who is too stubborn to give up on his beliefs?

I want you to be that kid again. Don't lose your beliefs, please don't give up on them for they are too special. If you believe in something, your belief will help you to work for it, overcome all challenges that shall come in your way. Be fond of your beliefs and they will be fond of you. I am not bluffing. Your belief system is directly associated with your brain. And the brain is mysterious and powerful. It can do things that are beyond your explanation. Also, studies have found that 'beliefs' can literally make things happen. But this is not always true because at the end of the day we are humans and our beliefs can be misguided or outright wrong.

Now comes the most important topic of discussion, do you believe in yourself? Do you believe that you are here for a reason, for something big? If you do not believe in yourself, then how can you expect others to believe in you. Everybody on this earth is here to serve a purpose, even you. That purpose is yours to decide. You can choose to be a dumb sheep or a roaring lion. If you choose the former, you will forever live in the shadows, but in case you choose the later, you will leave a dent in the universe. Choosing the later won't be an easy way out, it will demand many sleepless nights, a resolution to work hard, lots of patience because good things take time and most importantly an undying belief that you can do it, and eventually you will shine brighter than a diamond, and the world will be the witness.

"First think, second believe, third dream then finally dare", and you are ready to conquer the world. 
More: Read another article '13 Reasons why Individualism triumphs over Collectivism'

If you had a wonderful time reading this, then let us know in the comment section below(Facebook comment feature available). Share this article with your friends and colleagues on Facebook, Google+ and Twitter. Don't forget to subscribe to our page for receiving amazing articles straight into your inbox.


Enter your email address:


Delivered by FeedBurner
Read More

Sunday, 17 September 2017

Facts about Farhan Akhtar you did not know

06:53 4
Farhan Akhtar, the multi-talented actor-director-singer-lyricist is quite unconventional whether it be his husky voice or his movie choices. With all that talent in a single body, he can be called a production house in himself. Although his portfolio was not so gorgeous like the other actors of the B-town he still managed to create a firm position in the film industry and straight away in our hearts, thanks to his phenomenal skills.

Farhan Akhtar
Image Source: google images
The 43-year-old Farhan was born in Mumbai to scriptwriters Javed Akhtar and Honey Irani. He has won many Filmfare Awards and received praises for his pragmatic roles in movies like Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and Wazir etc, but before Bollywood bestowed him with the limelight, he had to undergo a lot of struggle like every twenty-something guy. Gladly, we have done all the digging for you. So, sit tight and enjoy!


Farhan Akhtar

His father belongs to Lucknow and so he has spent some crucial years of his life in his ancestral house in Lucknow. Farhan admires the old Lakhnawi architecture and not to mention, not-to-be-found anywhere else Tunday kebabs.


Farhan Akhtar

Farhan stated in an interview that Mathematics was a nightmare for him. While in the second year, Farhan was kicked out of HR college, Mumbai for short attendance. He was pursuing law there. He didn't even try to complete his graduation later.


Farhan Akhtar

Post college, he spent 2 years of his life literally doing nothing. Wondering what did he do? He just watched movies day-in and day-out on VHS. According to him, it was his self-conducted film course. Probably, he wasn't just watching movies, he was studying them.


Farhan Akhtar

His mother was worried about his career. She threatened him to throw him out of the house if he didn't get serious about his life. Guess what he did next? He penned down the blockbuster youth movie 'Dil Chahta Hai'. He considers it to be the turning point in his life.


Farhan Akhtar

He made his directorial debut in Bollywood with 'Dil Chahta Hai' in 2001. But he didn't leave Hollywood untouched. He wrote the lyrics for Gurinder Chadha's 'Bride and Prejudice(2004)'. Prior to this, he was assistant director in movies Lamhe(1991) and Himalay Putra(1997).


Farhan Akhtar

Yes! He has a borderline obsessive-compulsive disorder. He gets anxious when stuff around him is unorganized. He feels distracted when the things are not kept in their right places. He also has a phobia for cockroaches.


Farhan with wife Adhuna and daughters Shakya and Akira

Farhan's better half Adhuna Bhabani is seven years older to him and brought up in the UK. They dated for three years before tying the knot in 2000. They are blessed with two lovely daughters- Shakya and Akira. Presently, Adhuna is a successful Bollywood hairstylist. But sadly the couple got divorced in October 2016.


Farhan Akhtar

One of the biggest regrets that he will always have is saying 'No' to a wonderful movie. The role of the lead protagonist in 'Rang De Basanti' was initially offered to him, but he refused to do it. The role was later offered to Aamir Khan only after he declined it.

Farhan Akhtar

As compared to other celebrities, Farhan learnt driving a little late when he was 22. While he learnt to ride a bike during the shooting of the movie 'Karthik calling Karthik'. His first car was Fiat which was gifted to him by his father.


Farhan Akhtar

He is UN Women's Goodwill Ambassador. He also attended a United Nation's Conference in New York where he interacted with some of the famous Hollywood actors like Meryl Streep, Chris Marti, Anne Hathway and Dakota Fanning. He also launched the social campaign MARD(Men Against Rape and Discrimination).

Farhan Akhtar is definitely the 'Man of the Millenium'. He is the perfect youth icon to look up to. One thing that can be learned from Farhan Akhtar is 'One can be brilliant on his own term'. I am his die-hard fan and in love with his naturally funny character in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara.

If you love Farhan Akhtar as much as I do, let me know in the comment section below(Facebook comment feature availabe). Don't forget to share this article with your friends and colleagues on Facebook, Twitter and Google+. Subscribe to our page for receiving new articles directly into your inbox.
Enter your email address:


Delivered by FeedBurner
Read More

Wednesday, 13 September 2017

What is blogging and why you should do it?

01:42 7
Blogging is a good practice and quite a trend now. Even if you look at your own friend circle you will definitely find someone who says "I am a blogger".
One day I went to a restaurant with my school friend, we were meeting after a long time. We skimmed through the menu and quickly ordered some starters and began our never-ending gossip session. While I was talking to her I overheard some guy sitting just behind our couch, asking his girl friend "If someone says 'I am a blogger', what does it mean?". To which she replied, "It means he is a blogger".

Image Source: howbloggingworks

It was definitely a lame answer and I wanted to turn back to them and explain him about blogging. But I chose not to. Since you are not from Mars, I take it that you already know what blogging is, right? But to all those, who haven't heard it before and wondering what this alien term is, I have come to your rescue. There was a time, decades back when blogging meant a person keeping a log of his everyday activity, kind of an online journal, but now blogging is not restricted only to that, today blogging is a career. A Blogger creates online content about a particular niche say 'food', and interested people can follow his blog for fresh articles on that topic. Readers can engage and participate in the discussion. Just like the one you are reading, yes Blogmantra is a blog and I am a blogger.



I can give you more than a hundred reasons why you should start a blog, but we don't have the time for that haul. So I will just give you some of the most significant reasons that will inspire you to start blogging.

More: Read 'How to get Google Adsense Approval'

Best for introverts

Image Source: alignedholistics

If you are an introvert, you should try blogging. Most of the time introverts are good with words, moreover, I can give you examples when blogging has really helped people to come out of their shells. India's one of the best pro-blogger Harsh Aggarwal was an introvert when he started his blog, it was difficult for him to make conversation in person. But see him today, he travels all across the world, meets new people and takes international seminars, possible only because of his award winning blog Shoutmeloud.

Improves your writing

Image Source: digitaltrends

We all know writing is a good practice. If you start your blog today and compare your articles on a hundredth day, you will see that you are getting better at this. I have really felt the change in myself. When I started this blog, I struggled to fit even 100 words in my first article and see me today, writing 1000 words is a cakewalk now. Words will effortlessly come out and you can write as long as you want.

Increases your intelligence


Image Source: jeanlouisdavid

How is that even possible? Haha! Well, this is no magic rather logic. Bloggers update their blogs frequently, they create new content almost every day for their readers. Where it comes from? It comes only after extensive research. What I am trying to say is bloggers read a lot of stuff in order to generate their own content. They come across new and interesting information on the internet, they follow other blogs and this eventually increases their knowledge base.

Gives you exposure

Image Source: study

When you start a blog, you definitely think about taking it to the next level. You work hard to increase your reader-base, increase your blog ranking, increase your online presence. In the process, you meet with new people (bloggers and non-bloggers). You create a group or community of people around your blog. If I talk about myself, today I have 4-5 bloggers just like me in my circle, I have talked to some founders and entrepreneurs as well.



Helps you flaunt

Image Source: shutterstock

What could be better than having your own domain, isn't it cool? You will be the lucky one to say "I am a blogger, visit my website". In the starting days, you can flaunt around with it among your friends and cousins. Only with time, you will realise its seriousness. Personally, I feel good in fact great for having started this blog. 


Gives you a side-hustle

Image Source: dojoblog

Blogs can be a very good sideline for earning money. Some people are full-time into it because they generate a good income from it and this income can be as high as six figures in dollars. I am telling you this because believe it or not money drives you better than anything. But it entirely depends on how hard you are willing to work. Blogging is nothing but a calculated and careful investment. If you can't put all your time and efforts into it, just do it as a side business or hobby.

It is probably the time to take your talent online, go pro with a blog. In the next few days, I will write about "How to setup your first blog for free". So keep checking this space. Till then you can read about Google Adsense approval for your blog to make money online.

If you had a wonderful time reading this article and you wish to start a blog, please let me know in the comment section below and I can help you to set up your blog. Share this article with your friends and colleagues on Facebook, Twitter and Google+. Don't forget to subscribe to our page so that you don't miss out on amazing articles.

Enter your email address:


Delivered by FeedBurner

Read More

Tuesday, 12 September 2017

Pikkabox: a Desire, a Journey, a Startup !

03:12 0
I feel that travel startups have a lot of potential today in spite of the cutthroat competition because travelling is no longer just a journey, it is counted as an experience. You may have come across many business plans and startup stories, but not as enticing as the one I am going to tell you about. Travelling, it leaves you speechless in the beginning and then turns you into a storyteller. Inspired by this, a New York based Indian couple experimented with their wanderlust and laid the foundation of an online business.

Gaurabh and Anuja from Pikkabox
Image Source: the betterindia

Pikka Heads of Pikkabox

Meet the husband-wife duo who started Pikkabox in June 2015. Husband Gaurabh Mathure is a Creative Director in a well-accomplished Design Consultancy. On the other hand, wife Anuja Joshi is a Design Strategist.
They both had firm careers and a fulfilling life in a city like New York when they came across Remote Year- an exclusive year long travel program. Remote Year is a startup by Greg Caplan and Sam Pessin that lets the digital nomads travel the world with a group of 75 professionals, takes them to 12 different countries in 12 months and exposes them to the cultural richness, heritage and unique experiences associated with each country.
Moved by this life-changing idea, the couple pitched in. 2015 was the inaugural year for Remote Year and it received 75,000 applications along with Gaurav and Anuja's for 75 spots. 
But Anuja was initially doubtful of the program, it was Gaurabh who convinced her for it. Anuja said:
Gaurabh and I love to travel but a limited number of holidays and a 9-5 schedule meant our travelling was also limited. I have to admit, taking a year off and leading a lifestyle on-the-go was not in my life's trajectory.
But anyhow, the lucky couple got accepted at Remote Year and they started their journey from Prague in June 2015 and this travel startup laid the foundation for them to begin theirs.

More: Read about the ultimate travel startup 'Remote Year'

Pikkabox
Image Source: pikkabox

What is Pikkabox?

For the founders, Pikkabox is a passion project started in June 2015. But for you and me, Pikkabox is an online store that helps you order a box full of interesting and unique goodies hand picked by Gaurabh and Anuja from foreign lands. It means you just sit at home, scroll through their website, and request them to send you a box full of souvenirs. Sounds interesting and one-of-a kind, right?
So far they have curated nine boxes from nine different countries, and they were an instant sell-out.
The name of their business 'Pikkabox' is as intriguing as their venture. Pikka bird is a fictional character from the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, where the bird is said to belong to the Planet Lamuella and it gets euphoric by the ordinary things like the rising sun.



What did they do?

While they were on this Remote Year trip, they thought that it would be great to send souvenirs to their dear ones. Friends and family were amused when Gaurabh and Anuja shared the idea with them. That's how it all started, with just a simple thought. They decided to keep it low profile for a year through their travels while laying roots till the time they launch it full-fledged after coming back.
Since with Remote Year, they had to stay for a month in a particular city, they got enough time to prepare a place-specific box and do rest of the pikkabox-work along with their respective freelance jobs which allowed them to pursue the trip with all expenses managed.

Every time, they visited a new city, they would update it on their site and let the people know about the place and its whereabouts through engaging notes on their blog. They would showcase the city specific mystery box on the site for people to order.

Pikkabox- what is inside a box
Image Source: pikkabox

What is in the box?

While Gaurabh and Anuja were on the go, they strolled through many places to collect valuable artifacts, handicrafts, postcards, stationery, toys, home-products, edibles and anything that they found interesting. Unlike other e-commerce sites, they didn't want to sell products, they wanted to sell stories. So with each product, they added a card so that you could see the place through their eyes. The cards were meant to describe the value, sentimental attachment and usefulness of the product with its local area.
In a box, they put around six to eight curated products that they think would give their customers a glimpse of the city and the country that they visited. They made a limited number of boxes each month to put it on sale and shipped all the boxes at the end of the month.
The price varies from box to box. It entirely depends on the country. Like a box from Istanbul, Turkey costs more than a box from Ljubljana, Slovenia because of its popularity. 


Just like their Remote Year trip, their business ended in a year and you would not find any box for sale on their website right now, but the good news is that they are planning for the future and relentlessly working to launch Pikkabox version 2.0 for you. 
Gaurabh and Anuja reminded us that 'The moment is now, not tomorrow or yesterday or someday. Right here, right now this is your moment'.

If you had a wonderful time reading this article, let us know in the comment section below(Facebook comment feature also available). Share this article with your friends and colleagues on Facebook, Twitter and Google+. Don't forget to subscribe to our page for more amazing stories like this one.

Enter your email address:


Delivered by FeedBurner
Read More

Post Top Ad