Srinagar, Sept. 1 -- We live in a society where trust often takes the shape of a signature. A brother seeks help for his business, a cousin pleads for support in securing a loan, and a friend insists it is "just paperwork."

Many sign as guarantors without hesitation, believing it to be a gesture of goodwill. Yet, in law, that one stroke of the pen is no token of friendship. It is a binding promise, as serious as borrowing the money yourself, and one that has ruined countless families across India, including here in Kashmir.

At its core, a personal guarantee is simple: it is a promise that if the borrower fails, the guarantor will pay.

The Indian Contract Act of 1872 makes this explicit. The liability is "co-extensive," which means the ...