Who was Balabuva Satarkar and why was he sought after for the Ram Navami festival?

Balabuva Satarkar was a renowned Haridas, a performer of devotional music, who was famously known as the 'Modern Tukaram' for his Bhajans. According to Chapter 6, he was originally from Satara but was staying in Parel, Mumbai. He was highly regarded for his craft and had a long-standing association with two major annual festivals, including the Ram Navami celebration at Siddha-Kavthe, where he performed under an annual grant. His fame was such that when the previous performer, Bhishma, was unavailable in Shirdi, Kaka Mahajani made arrangements to bring Balabuva to lead the kirtan, highlighting his esteemed reputation.