Somy Ali opens up about her deeply personal fight against domestic violence and human trafficking, urging India to treat the safety of women and children as a national emergency.
With raw honesty, she emphasises that action, not awareness, is what truly saves lives.
Somy Ali, actor turned activist, continues to raise her voice with unflinching honesty as she confronts two of India’s most urgent crises: domestic violence and human trafficking. In a candid and emotionally charged conversation, she reflects on the wounds that shaped her mission, the moral duty society can no longer ignore, and why she believes the safety of women and children must be treated as a national emergency.
Speaking about the cause closest to her heart, she shared, “I am most connected to ending domestic violence and human trafficking, because I was once that girl crying behind closed doors with no one to help me. I know what silence feels like. I know what fear tastes like. And I promised myself that if I ever survived my own pain, I would spend the rest of my life pulling others out of theirs.”
She stressed that her activism is deeply personal rather than charitable. She said, “For me, this work isn’t charity, it’s my calling, my purpose, my redemption.”
When asked how ordinary people can contribute to meaningful change, she emphasised that one does not need an organisation to make an impact. She shared, “You don’t need a nonprofit to change the world, you only need a conscience.”
She believes small actions can have life-saving consequences. She urges people to believe survivors, call out abusive behaviour, teach boys respect, support those in distress, and offer dignity to those who have lost hope. “Compassion is contagious. Start small. Start close. Start now. Ask yourself: Who is hurting around me?”
She added, “Help one person, and your heart will guide you to the next.”
Highlighting the gap between performative concern and real impact, she warned, “Awareness is the spark, but action is the fire. You can’t change what you refuse to see, but awareness without action is just performance. I’ve seen women die with ‘awareness’ all around them.”
According to her, what truly saves lives is access to support and the courage to intervene. She said, “What saves lives is intervention, shelter, medical care, therapy, legal support, and someone bold enough to say: ‘I will not look away.’”
She also spoke about the responsibility public figures carry. “They play a crucial role. A single post from a public figure can reach millions. But it must be done with integrity. It can’t be a photo-op. It must be a responsibility,” she noted.
Calling out the most urgent crisis India faces, she said, “Violence against women in every form… These are not isolated incidents. They are an epidemic.”
She continued, “Nothing will change until we treat the safety of women and children as a national emergency, not a social inconvenience.”
On the double-edged nature of social media, she noted, “Social media has saved lives… but it has also harmed people. It spreads misinformation, enables trolling and victim-blaming, and gives abusers a platform.”
Closing the conversation, she reflected on the responsibility society carries: “In the end, social media is a mirror. It reflects who we are, our compassion and our cruelty. It’s up to us to choose which side we amplify.”
