New Delhi, Nov. 15 -- Professional historians and the scientific study of history have come under severe assault in the "post-truth" era. Distorted and revisionist history, including re-invented history, propagated through social media platforms has found ready audiences who are willing to suspend disbelief. The trend has accelerated with all manner of enthusiasts and dilettantes trying their hand at writing history.

In theory, there is nothing wrong with that because any analysis of past events, as long as it is well-researched and well-written, could qualify as literature. In fact, historians have won the Nobel for literature as well as for economics. Theodore Mommsen won the Nobel for literature in 1902 for his three-volume tome on Ro...