On 11 February 2010, the 31st anniversary of the Islamic Revolution was observed in Iran, and it took place in an extraordinarily politically charged atmosphere, being seen as something of a watershed event for Iran’s Green Movement. As I followed the news on-line, I cam across a Persian word I had never heard before: ساندیس (sāndīs). I turned to the excellent Farhang Moaser (فرهنگ معاصر), but didn’t find it there. But with a little help from Google image search, I learned that a sāndīs is a packaged fruit drink.
Illustration of sāndīses found at www.razavi-canning.com
The reason this word was in the news this past week as that such fruit drinks were distributed at pro-government events. Green Movement adherents disparagingly referred to those who turned out at rallies in support of the government as ساندیسخوران (sāndīskhūrān) or “fruit juice drinkers,” the implication being that the government had bought their support for the price of a few fruit drinks.
I haven’t yet learned the etymology of sāndīs, though I suspect it may be a trade name that has become generic. The sāndīses shown in the illustration above are marketed under the label taqdīs (blessing).
19 Comments
I’m from Iran. sandis is a trade name that has become generic. we use this world to disparage the pro-governments. wen we come out in the street they distribute bullet for us. but for tht HEZBOLLAH people they distribute Sandis.
Thank you very much for the feedback, Kourosh!
!!ايول ، تازه راني خورش رو نديدي
I’m from Iran. thx for publish it
As said before, Sandis is a brand name. It was inspired by then-locally-famous imported Sunquick juice and concentrate products.
Haha, thanks for publishing this. I’m a native Persian speaker, “Sandis” is a trade name and it’s been around for ages. “Sandiskhor” ساندیس خور
means “Sandins Drinker” and refers to a government supporter who is blindly supporting the government often for really stupid things such as Sandis, etc…
This is how the government ‘buys’ support, for example in poor villages, they go and distribute cheese, bags of rice, flour, oil, etc… for free and they offer they will give them more if they vote for a particular person, etc… this is how poverty makes a country paralysed.
thanks for publishing . can i share your page in my facebook ?
hi
i think sāndīs was one of the trade marks that belong to the another country along time ago that sells its products in iran.
for example in iran we call the powder of whasing garments “تاید”.
or we call the liquid for washing dishes “ریکا” .
ریکا and تاید are trade marks that maybe like ساندیس belong to foreigner factories
Good job!
thanks for publishing this.
world must know
No matter if it is a barnd or generic name,” The Sandis Dirinker ” or Sandis refers to those miserable people rcruiting by Iranain Regiem on memorial days in capital Tehran or major cities in Iran to show off as government’s supporters.
Sandis also applyed to anybody in or out of Iran supports Iranian government receiving cash, gift to be appeared on media, conferences or any movement to support regiem.
Of course, please feel free to link to this on Facebook (or anywhere you like).
the factory that product ساندیس in Iran:
http://www.foodkeys.com/i/details.aspx?ID=71
ساندیس!!!!!
http://www.pakdisco.com/en/about.aspx
“Sandis” has been extended to symbolize all benefits the Islamic Republic proponents (also hypocrites) gain through their support in universities, work, etc.
ha ha ha. Always it makes me laugh when I hear about it.
As our friends mentioned Sandis is a brand and a well-known name in order to insult & make fun of fans of dictatorship who have been stabbing in the back of Iran & freedom of expression & even religion.By carrying on this appropriate approach, we hope to reduce the violence of martial parties which is taking over whole private sector.
چه با حال!
همه از ایرانن :دی
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