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).
2 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!