title: Python code for calculating number of an alphabet
body: <p>I need to find the number of an alphabet in the range of alphabets ie a = 1, b=2 , c =3....
  So if i get a then the returning value should be 1</p>
  
  <p>Is there a shorter method provided in python(inbuilt) to find it other than declaring a dictionary of 26 alphabets with their respected values. </p>
  
  <p>Please help if you know of such a function.....</p>