I was born into a religion that placed me, a Brahmin, at the top of its hierarchy while condemning me, as a woman, to a role of subservience. The larger political entity to which I first gave my allegiance-India-was not even a sovereign nation when I was born. What is implied by the author with the allusion at the top of its hierarchy? She was on top of the world from the time of her birth. She reminds us to be grateful to have freedom of religion. People in India had to be born into a religion, rather than choosing it. In the Indian culture, Brahmin was considered a superior religion over all others.