How does the author describe his own character before meeting Sai Baba, and why does he feel the need to explain the name 'Hemadpant'?

The author explains the origin of the name 'Hemadpant' because it appears at the end of every chapter, and he anticipates the reader's curiosity. As he describes in Chapter 2, his initial character was far from that of a humble devotee. He admits to being mischievous, talkative, cynical, and critical. He was always proud of his own wisdom, possessed a logic-driven mind prone to argumentation, and knew nothing of a Satguru's greatness. It was only through destiny and the insistence of friends like Kakasaheb Dixit that he, a staunch debater, came to see Sai Baba's lotus feet.