Cuttack: Narendra Modi likened Cuttack to a talisman for success. He said: "Anything that begins here never fails." He was addressing a public meeting at Killa Maidan to mark the completion of four years of his government at the Centre.

Starting off his address with " Jai Jagannath", Modi said in Odia "Cuttack sahar ku mora pranam." He then went on to say: " Cuttack Odisha ki khubsurat gatih Ki pratik hai".

Modi described Cuttack as a city of inspiration. " Yahan aneh seh kuch karneh ki ichha hotih hai," he said before opening up with the list of achievements of his government.

He also recalled the sons and daughters of the soil - including Netaji Subash Chandra Bose, Utkal Gourav Madhusudan, Utkal Mani Gopabandhu, Utkal Kehsari Hraekrushan Mahatab, Radhanath Rath and Ramadevi.

Barabati Fort was the seat of many sovereign powers. It was the headquarters of Ganga dynasty's Kalinga Empire (1112-1435), Suryavamsi Gajapatis (1436-1540), Bhois (1542 -1560) and Muku-ndadev.

Cuttack remained the capital of the Turko-Afghans (1568-90), Mughals (1591-1707), Nazims of Bengal (1707-51), Marathas (1752-1803) and the British in Orissa from 1803.

It continued as state capital in post-Independent India till Bhuban-eswar became the capital in 1958.