Hemadpant seems to downplay his own role as the author. How can we trust his account if he says he's not really the one writing it?

Your observation about Hemadpant is a key point that Chapter 50 directly addresses to guide the reader's understanding. Hemadpant insists, 'Leave aside Hemadpant, for he is not the doer of this Satcharitra.' He presents himself as a 'nominal cause,' an instrument used by Sai Baba for the 'welfare of the devotees.' The text asserts that 'there is no one other than Sai who makes the words speak.' Therefore, the reader is encouraged not to view the book as a mere human biography but as a direct expression of Sai's grace. Trust, in this context, is placed in Sai as the ultimate source, with the text aiming to create a state of non-duality where the reader, the reading, and Sai are perceived as one.