Who was Devidas, and what was his role in Shirdi before Sai Baba's prominence, according to Chapter 5?

According to the details provided in Chapter 5 of the Sai Satcharitra, Devidas was a learned individual who had come and settled in Shirdi twelve years before Sai Baba arrived with the wedding party. He was highly regarded as a wise teacher and Guru by many villagers, including Tatyaba, Kashinath, and other leading disciples. The chapter mentions that he taught Appa Bhill using a slate and made him and others recite the Venkatesh Stotra. His importance in the village was significant enough that when a Fakir arrived, it was Devidas who engaged him in a scriptural debate and ultimately defeated him. This account in Chapter 5 establishes Devidas as a respected spiritual figure in Shirdi's history.