We live in a world that pretends numbers are the most meaningful truth. So this column is about numbers.

52.9 degrees Celsius: the temperature recorded in Delhi on May 28th. 56 degrees Celsius: temperature recorded in Nagpur on May 31. 60: number of heat related deaths in India since March 1, of which 25 were polling staff. Such incidents are often reported as a spike of abnormality in the otherwise routine, linear story of progress. So, more numbers.