In the first episode of The Making of Pakistan: Unpacking the Roots of a Nation, we explore the Introduction and Preface of K. K. Aziz’s seminal book, covering up to page 15. This episode lays the conceptual groundwork for understanding Muslim nationalism in Imperial India—examining its historical, political, religious, cultural, and psychological dimensions. We discuss how Indian Muslims came to see themselves as a distinct nation, the philosophical and religious basis for this identity, and the psychological factors that fostered a sense of unity. We also unpack the significance of the Two-Nation Theory and explore broader ideas about nationalism—what defines a nation, and what conditions give rise to national consciousness.