Who was Balabuva Satarkar and why did he wish to go to Shirdi?

Balabuva Satarkar was a renowned Haridas from Satara, famously known as the 'Modern Tukaram' for his devotional Bhajans. According to Chapter 6, he was associated with the annual Ram Navami Kirtan at a holy place called Siddha-Kavthe, for which he received a grant. His primary motivation for wanting to visit Shirdi was spiritual; after hearing of Sai Baba's great fame, a strong desire for His Darshan arose in his heart. Although he wished to make the journey, he was initially looking for company, an issue that was resolved when the cancellation of his usual duties provided the perfect opportunity to meet devotees who could arrange his visit.