After the fall of Taliban in 2001, the United States and other international donors started assisting Afghanistan in its rehabilitation and economic development. One such activity was implemented by the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign, which I led as the Director, Field Operations. The activity related to the capacity building of agriculture sector in Afghanistan. This activity pro- vided me with an opportunity to work with ministry officials; departments, faculties and students of universities; vocational schools; farmers; and the private sector. I engaged with them, worked with them, broke bread with them, and traveled throughout Afghanistan. I noticed that the devastation of the war and the destruction of their yard did not nudge their morale. They endured their suffering with courage and dignity. They had lost their families, houses, and pos- sessions and were left only with body and soul, but did not compromise on their faith, independence, and pride. They did not lose hope and were determined for quick recovery of their homeland. They were hungry for the knowledge to transform their condition, to become the consummate professionals to play their role in the economic development of Afghanistan. I became curious about these people who had stood against the many superpowers and empires and protected the independence of their yard and pride. It spun my mind to know about them, who they are, where they came from, and whose remnants they were. I knew that this would involve a lot of research and my mind continued spinning to find answers to these questions.