Shuravi Explained

Shuravi, shouravi, or shurwi (شوروی, Tajik: Шуравӣ) is the Persian term for the word "Soviet" or just "Soviet Union", it has been derived from the word shura (Persian: شورا), a word of Arabic origin meaning "council".^[1]

This term is also the collective image of Soviet soldiers and military specialists in Afghanistan.^[2] The image has been widely spread among Afghan people. A motto "Marg bar shouravi", meaning "death to the Soviets", was popular among mujahideen. Conversely, the motto "Vivat, shuravi!", meaning "long live the Soviets", was adopted by the supporters of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan.

Russian veterans of Soviet–Afghan War often call themselves Shuravi.^[3] The word is used in Iran meaning "USSR".^[4]

External links

• How are you... Shuravi?
• Shuravi Museum in Remembrance of Peacekeeping Soldiers

Notes and References

1. Shuravi (شوروی) in Dehkhoda Dictionary
2. http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006%5C03%5C19%5Cstory_19-3-2006_pg3_3 WORD FOR WORD: Idea of ‘shura’ and beehive —Khaled Ahmed
3. M. Laruelle et al., 'An Oral History of the Soviet-Afghan War', in: M. Laruelle (ed.), The Central Asia-Afghanistan Relationship: From Soviet Intervention to the Silk Road Initiatives (Lanham, Boulder, New York & London 2017) 27 & 31.
4. http://www.qlineorientalist.com/AzerbaijanSociety/AzIranNassibli.html Azerbaijan-Iranian relations and Iraqi events