What is Uru?
/ˈʊrʊ/

In 2019, I found myself atop a magnificent Uru being constructed in Beypore, Kerala in South India. 'Uru' means 'fat boat'. Accompanying me was our mascot, a tiny puppy named Storm. He was so small that I could easily carry him and run if necessary (an agility that proved useful when one of my teammates had to scoop him up and sprint away from a pursuing Monitor Lizard!). We were studying the ecological challenges faced by the communities living and working along the coastline. Beypore was a stop to engage with the skilled artisans who were building this impressive Uru.

These magnificent vessels have deep historical roots in ancient maritime trade. Seafarers of many languages, different cultures and skin tones navigated the seas on these boats trading in spices from the Maluku islands with Chinese silks, Indian cottons, African ivory, and later Arabian coffee. 

In 2025, navigating the streets of Bengaluru, we were thinking about a name for this collection of stories written about the experiences of growing up in the Majority World. We came up with the name ‘Uru Stories’. 

‘Uru’ also means home town, native place, or the place of one’s origin. Or perhaps it could signify a journey as a destination, a path to be, a path we envision as our own, whether it's a physical location, a sense of belonging, or a state of being.

Pradeep Rajendran

Chief Editor of Uru Stories