Who was Devidas, and what was his significance in Shirdi before Sai Baba's prominence, as detailed in Chapter 5?

Chapter 5 explains that Devidas was a wise individual who had settled in Shirdi twelve years before Sai Baba's arrival with the wedding party. He lived a simple life at the Maruti temple. Devidas played the role of a teacher, instructing Appa Bhill on a slate and teaching the Venkatesh Stotra. His wisdom was so respected that Tatyaba took him as his Guru, and other leading disciples like Kashinath also revered him. The chapter highlights his importance by mentioning that he successfully defeated a Fakir in a scriptural debate, solidifying his status as a learned person in the community.