Based on the text, what was the author's character like before he became a devotee and chronicler for Sai Baba?

Before his transformation, the author who would become known as Hemadpant described himself in a very unflattering light. Chapter 2 provides a candid self-assessment, stating that he was 'mischievous, talkative, cynical, and critical.' He admits to having a 'logic-driven mind' and being 'always proud of his own wisdom,' making him prone to argumentation. The author also notes he was ignorant of the greatness of a Satguru and possessed a 'bad intellect,' painting a picture of an arrogant intellectual who was initially quite far from the path of faith and surrender that Sai Baba required.