Last week, two bits of news came as a shot in the arm for city lovers, heritage buffs, and anybody who wishes that Mumbai retain its original fabric and character despite it appearing as a daunting, if not Herculean task.

City visionary Jamshetji Tata’s former residence, Esplanade House in Fort, was restored to its former glory by Vikas Dilawari and his team after a decade-long laborious initiative. In a couple of days, mid-day broke the news that industrialist Mukesh Ambani was to pledge R1.8 crore for the running of the Dr Bhau Daji Lad Museum in Byculla. Both developments should serve as ideal springboards for others to follow suit and dig deep to direct their funds for the city’s historic and cultural landscape. In fact, one heaved a huge sigh of relief that city founding father, entrepreneur and philanthropist Jamsetji Tata’s home got this much-needed restoration.