The hammer and sickle near the seashore in Pondicherry

THE LETTERS ‘CITU’ stand for the Centre of Indian Trade Unions, which was founded in 1970. Its ‘logo’ includes the hammer and sickle, a symbol first used on some Chilean coins as early as 1894. However, it became widely recognised after 1917 when it was used as a symbol during the Russian Revolution, and long after it was over.

 

Today, I  spotted a small street stand erected in Pondicherry by the CITU.  It is located on the corner of Rue du Bazar St Laurent and Beach Road (Goubert Avenue),  which runs along the seafront. It has three white hammer and sickles, each on a red background. One of these symbols faces in the opposite direction to the other two.

 

Now, here is what interested me. Two of the Communist symbols decorate the stone supports of a short table or bench. Running along the length of the bench and slightly above it, there is a row of religious images. Four of them depict Hindu deities,  three of them are images of Christianity,  and one, showing two mosques and the Holy Koran, is connected with Islam.

I suppose that this might reflect the fact that local members of the CITU are adherents of these three religions.  But, I  am only guessing.