What was the author Hemadpant's personality like before he became a devotee, and how does he describe his own mindset?

In Chapter 2, the author provides a very candid self-assessment of his character before his transformation. He describes himself as having been 'mischievous, talkative, cynical, and critical.' He admits to possessing a 'bad intellect and a logic-driven mind' and being 'always proud of his own wisdom.' This pride led him to be prone to argumentation, and he confesses that he knew nothing of the Satguru's greatness at the time. This honest portrayal of his arrogant and critical nature serves to highlight the profound change that Sai Baba's grace brought about in his life, making his subsequent role as the sacred biographer even more remarkable.