As news of the passing of Sadashiv Gorakshkar, former director of Prince of Wales Museum (now Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, CSMVS), started trickling in yesterday, words like 'mentor' and 'guide' could be spotted in social media tributes by Mumbai's heritage voices, as they reminisced his contribution.

The author, art critic and museologist represented all these tags, as he championed the cause of heritage awareness in the city. The 86-year-old left behind a legacy that resonates among those who worked alongside him or benefitted from his knowledge of the city. "Late Sadashiv Gorakshkar was my friend and mentor until his death. He was considered one of the architects of the modern museum movement," recalls Sabyasachi Mukherjee, director of CSMVS. Gorakshkar, he shares, was the first voice to speak up about the need for a heritage management programme in India. "Few will remember that the city's heritage movement was actually started from Coomaraswamy Hall, and he was one of the key contributors in shaping the present heritage regulations." In recognition of his contribution towards art and culture, Gorakshkar was conferred the Padma Shri.