Who was Devidas, and what was his relationship with the people of Shirdi and the Fakir as described in Chapter 5?

According to Chapter 5, Devidas was a very wise individual who had come and settled in Shirdi twelve years before Sai Baba arrived with the wedding party. He was highly respected and acted as a Guru to many, including Tatyaba and Kashinath. The chapter mentions that he taught Appa Bhill using a slate and made everyone recite the Venkatesh Stotra. His spiritual authority is highlighted in an incident where a Fakir challenged him to a scriptural debate. Devidas, with his superior wisdom and detachment, soundly defeated the Fakir, who then fled the village. This story, related by Mahalsapati, establishes Devidas as a prominent spiritual figure in Shirdi's history.