The Common Press is absolutely delighted to be hosting a celebration of Leyla Jagiella's memoir, Among the Eunuchs
From the publisher:
A courageously personal exploration of gender identity across Muslim cultures, from the West South Asia.
From an early age, Leyla Jagiella knew that she would be defined by two things: being Muslim and being trans. Struggling to negotiate these identities in her conservative small hometown, she travelled to India and Pakistan, where her life was changed by her time among third-gender communities.
Known as hijras in India, khwajasaras in Pakistan, these marginal communities have traditionally been politically and culturally important, respected for their supernatural powers to bless or curse, and often serving as eunuchs in Mughal India's palaces. But under British colonialism, the hijras were criminalised and persecuted, entrenching taboos they still battle today.
Among the Eunuchs reveals vastly varied interpretations of religion, gender and sexuality, illuminating how deeply culture informs our experiences, As identity becomes an ideological battlefield, Jagiella complicates binaries and dogma with her rich personal reflections. Her fascinating journey speaks to all who find themselves juggling different kinds of belonging.
Praise for Among the Eunuchs:
'Brimming with critical insight, this is a rich account highlighting how personal and social history enmesh. Important and timely.' - Avtar Brah MBE, Professor Emerita of Sociology, Birkbeck, University of London
'An amazing, intricately detailed and personal history of hijras and the modern-day trans community. From the glory of royal courts to a fight for survival, this is a powerfully written exploration of sexuality, gender, Islam and South Asian culture.' - Madian Al Jazerah, author of Are You This? Or Are You This?
Leyla Jagiella is a cultural anthropologist and scholar of religion, working on orthodoxy and heterodoxy in Islam and gender and sexuality in Muslim societies. As a Muslim trans woman, she has also been a community activist for several decades and has worked as social worker with LGBTQI refugees in Germany.
Guests are welcome to arrive from 6.30pm, and will be able to wait in our bar next door, Common Counter. The bookshop will open from 7pm, with the event starting at 7.30pm. Books will be available to purchase on the night.