What was the author's personality like before he encountered Sai Baba, and why does he bring it up?

The author, who would later be known as Hemadpant, describes his former self as being quite arrogant and cynical. In Chapter 2, he admits to being mischievous, talkative, critical, and possessing a logic-driven mind. He was always proud of his own wisdom and prone to argumentation, knowing nothing of a Satguru's greatness. He brings up this past personality to provide context for the story of how he received the name "Hemadpant." He promises to tell this sub-story to satisfy the reader's curiosity about the identity of the composer mentioned at the end of each chapter, framing his transformation as part of Sai's leela.