I read that the author, Hemadpant, was initially a cynical person. Why should I care about the story of how he got his name?

You are correct; Chapter 2 describes the author's initial character as 'mischievous, talkative, cynical, and critical,' with a mind 'prone to argumentation.' The text itself anticipates that readers would be curious about this individual. The narrative promises to tell the story of how he was named 'Hemadpant' specifically to 'satisfy that curiosity.' This origin story is presented as being relevant and an 'inspiration' from Sai, suggesting that understanding the author's transformation from a cynic to a devotee named Hemadpant is an integral part of the larger spiritual narrative being shared.