Who was Madhavrao Balwant Deshpande, and what was his role in Sai Baba's life and among his devotees?

Madhavrao Balwant Deshpande was a school master in a Marathi school located next to the Masjid in Shirdi. Chapter 0 describes him as one of the very few people who developed a close relationship with Sai Baba in the early days when most people were hesitant. He would visit the Masjid, fill the chillum, and smoke with Maharaj, gradually forming a deep bond. Over time, Madhavrao's devotion grew so strong that he left all other businesses to dedicate his life to serving Maharaj and the people who came for his darshan. He became a key support figure and a trusted advisor for many devotees, who would not take a step without his counsel.