In a small bowl, mix together 1 tablespoon instant yeast, 1 teaspoon sugar, and 3 tablespoon warm water. After stirring well, set aside for 10 minutes or until the mixture turns frothy. Do not keep for more than 10 minutes.
Take 3 and ½ cups of all-purpose flour (maida/plain flour) in a large mixing bowl. To this, add 1 teaspoon salt, yeast mixture, and olive oil. Mix well before adding water to the dough.
Add 1 ½ cup of water, little at a time and start kneading the dough. When you get a sticky dough, add a little more flour as needed. Do not use more than 4 cups of flour.
Turn the dough on a tabletop or flat surface with lots of flour so that the dough does not stick.
To get a perfectly smooth dough, knead it for at least 5 to 7 minutes or more. The final dough must be soft and sticky.
Grease a large bowl with oil and place the dough to rise to double its size. Keep it covered in a warm place. This will take about 60 to 90 minutes to rise.
Now the base is ready for the sauce, cheese and toppings.