Who was Damu Anna and what role did he play in the Shirdi Ram Navami flag procession alongside the Nimonkars?

Damu Anna was a well-to-do bronze-smith (Kasar) from Ahmednagar and a dedicated devotee of Sai Baba. His specific role in the Ram Navami festival is detailed in Chapter 25. He was one of the two patrons for the large flags taken out in the annual procession. The text explicitly states that one flag belonged to the Nimonkars, and the second one was provided by Damu Anna. He undertook this service as a vow of gratitude after Sai Baba blessed him with sons, ending his long period of being childless. For many years, these two flags were the centerpiece of the procession, which started from Kondaji Sutara's house and concluded at the Masjid.