Can you describe the author's personality and intellectual habits before he was named 'Hemadpant'?

The author provides a very candid self-assessment of his character before the naming event in Chapter 2. He describes himself as having been mischievous, talkative, cynical, and critical. He admits to being arrogant about his knowledge, possessing a bad intellect, and having a mind driven by logic and argumentation. He was proud of his own wisdom and had no understanding of a Satguru's greatness. This self-portrait of a logic-driven and cynical individual sets the stage for the transformation that is implied by his association with Sai Baba and the subsequent receiving of the name 'Hemadpant.'