MUMBAI: Actress Somy Ali says that the fact that she saves and rehabilitates women and children through her US-based NGO No More Tears, gives her abundant happiness. She adds that protecting victims of domestic violence and rape gives her an unparalleled sense of joy, that nothing else can.
“Happiness is given to us in doses, like medicine, and, at times, it heals us for a long time while other times it's literally for milliseconds and comes with side effects. My happiness is solely based on helping others and please understand that there are no selfless deeds. I help others because it brings me joy, therefore, it is not an altruistic deed. Even people who help anonymously are aware of what they are doing and it brings them satisfaction which conclusively makes them feel good about themselves.”

She says that it is important to give back to society if we want to be happy ourselves. “I strongly believe that if we are blessed in the slightest it is our duty to give back and that's been my mantra since I was a child. I decided to pick a career which I know will bring me joy therefore my happiness is contingent on helping those in need. So, if one asks me in a perfect world what would I like to see, I would say that every human being with scruples, ethics, a moral compass, and less selfishness. Is that a logical request? I don't know,” she says.

She adds, “When I look around the world even outside of my NGO, it proves the complete opposite. There are lives being taken of many children, men and women over religion, land and money. That's not a perfect world in my eyes by any means and this isn't a new phenomena because it's been there since evolution. Point being, my lens shows me a different world as many others carry prescriptions of various lenses which show them a different world.”