Based on his self-description, what was the author's personality like before he wrote the book, and how does this relate to Sai Baba's teachings on ego?

In Chapter 2, the author, who would be named Hemadpant, gives a candid self-assessment of his character prior to this spiritual undertaking. He describes himself as mischievous, talkative, cynical, and critical, possessing an arrogant pride in his own wisdom and a logic-driven mind prone to argumentation. This self-portrait of an ego-driven intellectual stands in stark contrast to Sai Baba's core requirement for writing the book: that the devotee must "dissolve his ego and surrender it at my feet." Only when the ego is completely dissolved could Sai Baba Himself "enter with 'I-ness' and write with my own hand," highlighting the profound personal transformation needed to become a worthy divine instrument.