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Hyderabad Days

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Book cover titled "Hyderabad Days" by Ravi Vedula with an orange background, black text, and a subtitle "The code we lived by before we coded."

A nostalgic, big-hearted memoir of a Hyderabad colony in the 80s–90s—and the unwritten code of community that became a foundation for a life of software engineering and leadership. With vivid storytelling and a cast of unforgettable characters — from cricketing legends of the lane to sari-clad sisters who led in silence — this collection of slice-of-life chapters paints a world of shared TVs, Gold Spot bottles, kirana-store diplomacy, and friendships that defied caste, class, and religion.

  • “In this book, you will find little or no mention of computers, software, business process, or leadership values. This book is completely nontechnical. But like me, I hope you find something even more valuable, even more insightful. I hope you learn more about the inner lives, the families of people who code.”

    —Greg Shaw, Editor, 8080 Books, Co-author of Satya Nadella's Hit Refresh

  • “Ravi took me down nostalgia lane, pleasantly reminding me of all the little things we’d forgotten in our busy lives—the very things that shaped who we are today. His humor and storytelling, wrapped around such vivid details, are as engaging now as they were on our walks to high school four decades ago.”

    —Madhukar Reddy, VP Central Engineering, Maxlinear

  • “Hyderabad Days is a beautifully crafted memoir that blends vivid storytelling with timeless insights. Ravi takes us inside the rhythms and gullies of a community — where friendships, family rituals, and everyday challenges quietly shaped character and leadership. It’s a narrative that feels personal yet universal, reminding us that the foundations of resilience and empathy often begin in the humblest of places.”

    —Steve Clayton, Vice President, Microsoft Communications

  • “As someone who works closely with Ravi, I immediately recognized the values in this memoir—empathy, grit, humor—because they’re the same qualities he brings to his leadership every day. Hyderabad Days is as moving as it is inspiring.”

    —Chris Harig, Senior Director of Program Management, Microsoft Corporation

  • “Ravi always had a gift for articulation. His stories are our stories too. In reading this book, we got to live our childhood again. Precious!”

    —Vamsi Mohan Thati, President, Barry Callebaut Chocolates
    Former President - China, The Coca Cola Company

  • “My younger brother Ravi resurrected the memories that comprised our childhood in the chapters of Hyderabad Days so vividly. He writes with heart, humor and honesty, as he tells us of the things that became part of our inner core as children and later evolved into a durable foundation for facing life. The book made me laugh, cry, hope, smile, and re-live all the elements that made our family.” 

    —Nagender Vedula, Senior Vice President of Engineering, ScienceLogic,
    Ex Microsoft and GoDaddy

 Meet Ravi

Ravi Vedula is a Corporate Vice President of Engineering at Microsoft. He leads the IDEAS organization, which delivers data, insights, feedback, content, and personalization/growth services across the company. Before IDEAS, Ravi spent many years as a founding engineering leader within Office 365, driving core platforms such as Exchange Online, Service Fundamentals, and Modern Support.

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