Even before he went to Berkeley, Mumbiram was attracted to the tribals and their way of life that is close to nature. In America Mumbiram was attracted to Afro-Americans, Seventh Day Adventists, Krishna devotees, Germans, Hispanics and many others. After coming back to India after 12 years in the US, Mumbiram was drawn to the exotic folk people of India, the Phasepardhis, Warlis, Thakurs and others. Being accepted by them and invited to stay with them seemed the natural thing for this ‘lonely cavalier in the fields of beauty’. Yet it can also be seen as just the magical stroke of providence that inspired Mumbiram to Rasa masterpieces.
He had kept with a Thakur family the first painting of Krishna he made after returning to India.