What is controversy over Ramanujan Essay on Ramayana?

Majority of academicians at Delhi University recently felt deceived by their own brotherhood following a decision by the Academic Council to scrap from the History syllabus a famous Essay by the late scholar and linguist A. K. Ramanujan on the Ramayana, regardless of strong resistance from the History department.

The essay, “Three Hundred Ramayanas: Five examples and three thoughts on translations”, which forms part of the B.A. History (Honours) course, had engrossed the rage of Hindutva activists as it explains about 300 various versions of the Ramayana that flourish in our country and beyond. A writ petition was filed in the High Court on the grounds that the Essay hurts the religious persuasions of the Hindus. The issue was then adopted by the Supreme Court, which commanded the University to look for the view of experts. The names of the expert team were kept secret, 3 of the 4 members were satisfied with the content of the Essay but the 4^th member was not satisfied with the content and he expressed his opinion that Students of the second year may find it uneasy to digest. Thus, nothing religiously offensive was found by 3 out of the 4 experts. Still a decision was taken by the Academic Council to scrap the Essay from the University Curriculum.