How does the author connect Sai Baba to Lord Ganesha in the first chapter?

In Chapter 1, the author offers a detailed salutation to Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, who holds a bright axe to destroy the troubles of his devotees. The chapter then makes a profound connection by explicitly stating that Sai himself is Ganesha Ganapati. It explains that it is this Sai who, by taking the axe in hand and destroying obstacles, shall bring forth his own divine knowledge for the benefit of his followers. This identifies Sai as the very embodiment of the obstacle-removing deity.