Who is Hemadpant, and what was his personality like before his transformation?

Hemadpant is the name of the author who composed the "Sai Leela" book. The question of his identity is addressed directly in Chapter 2, where he promises to tell the story of how he received this name. Before his deep involvement with the Satguru, the author describes his own character in a very critical light. He admits to being mischievous, talkative, cynical, and prone to argumentation. He states that he was arrogant about his knowledge, possessed a logic-driven mind, and had a "bad intellect," knowing nothing of the greatness of a Satguru. This initial personality stands in stark contrast to the devotee who would later be chosen to chronicle Sai Baba's life.