Durjan Sal

Durjan Sal was a Nagvanshi king in the 17th century. He succeeded his father Bairisal in 1614. [1][2]

Immediately after accession to Nagvanshi throne, he threw away all allegiance to the Mughals. Because of the independent attitude of Durjan Sal, coupled with possibility of acquiring diamonds from Khukhra, Jahangir ordered governor of Bihar Ibrahim Khan, an expedition against Durjan Sal. As it was a surprise attack, Durjan Sal was not able to do preparation to defend himself. Durjan Sal was defeated, arrested and all the diamonds taken from him in 1615. Twenty three elephants also fall in the hand of Ibrahim Khan. Durjan Sal taken to Delhi and then he was sent to prison in Gwalior.[3]

Mughal officials were collecting diamonds in river bed of Khokhra and sending it to Mughal court. The Jeweller tested diamond that were brought to Jahangir, they declared the best among them to be impure and impure to be sound. Durjan Sal was recalled from prison to identify real diamonds after staying twelve years in prison. He pointed out flaw and proved himself right. He tied the diamonds to the end of horn of a ram and made it fight with another ram. While flaw diamond split other remain intact. Jahangir so pleased that he released him. Durjan Sal begged that the other Raja who had been in the confinement of Gwalior fort should be released. He requested that his formal position to be resorted to him. He agreed to paid annual tribute of Rs 6,000 and title of Shah was also conferred on him.

During the absence of Durjan Sal from Khokhra, one of the relatives of him had captured the throne of chieftency although the overall control of the region continued to be excised by the imperial officers. The occupant of the chieftency developed hostility towards Mughals. As a result, Ahmed Beg Khan, the Nephew of Ibrahim Khan Fatah Jang and deputy governor of Orissa Subah, attacked the Khokhra in 1624. But Mughal could not mobilise effective army against him and could not able to remove from the throne.

After release of Durjan Sal from prison in 1627, he came to Khokhra and launched an attack to the usurper and succeeded in establishing himself in the throne. In fight, he was assisted by one of the raja who had accompanied him from Gwalior.

Navratangarh fort

He constructed the fort of Doisagarh, also known as Navratangarh, in Gumla. He died in 1640. He succeeded by his son Ram Shah.[4][5]