Srinagar, May 8 -- By Dr. Mushtaq Rather

Kashmir once lived by a code called Adab. It guided family life, community relations, respect for teachers, and the behaviour expected from the young. People valued restraint, manners, and mutual regard as part of everyday life. Today, that moral foundation has weakened sharply.

Many Kashmiris describe the current crisis as a clash between generations. That explanation barely scratches the surface.

The valley faces something deeper and far more dangerous: the collapse of a social ethic that once held communities together. Homes, schools, and neighbourhoods now struggle to perform the moral role they once embraced with conviction.

Older Kashmiris remember a time when elders commanded genuine reg...