Türkiye’s 136-year-old legend: 28 children, 250 grandchildren and a lifetime of love

Mehmet Resit Ak, a remarkable man living in the village of Gecitalti in the Kozluk district of Batman, claims to be 136 years old—and has a story that bridges empires, wars and lost love.

A living witness to history

Mehmet Resit Ak is more than a villager living in southeastern Türkiye—he is a living witness to some of the most defining moments in modern history. Born in the late Ottoman period, Ak says he fought under Mustafa Kemal Ataturk during Türkiye’s War of Independence and clearly recalls events that shaped the foundation of the republic.

“I am 136 years old. I saw Ataturk many times. Once, he called us to join a battle against the Greeks hiding in caves. We fought fiercely and eventually drove them into the sea,” Ak recounted, his memory vivid and his voice steady.

The secret to his long life

When asked about the secret to his extraordinary longevity, Ak points to a lifetime of natural living: “I owe it to eating yogurt every day, working hard, breathing clean air, drinking clean water, and eating organic, plant-based food.”

His family confirms that he still avoids processed food and eats minimal bread, sometimes less than half a loaf per week.

3 marriages, 28 children, over 250 grandchildren

Mehmet Resit Ak has been married three times and fathered 28 children. His extended family now includes more than 250 grandchildren.

“My father is 136 years old. I am the third son, and I am 70 years old myself,” said Hamdi Ak, one of his sons. “He has lived through so much and still remembers everything with clarity.”

Dilsen Ak, his only surviving wife at age 78, describes him as a gentle and disciplined man. “He never treated us badly. He mostly eats yogurt and hardly consumes bread,” she said.

A love that never was

One of the most striking stories Ak shares is about a woman named Ragda—his greatest love, and the reason he believes he still lives.

“She was the daughter of a powerful man in our region. We loved each other deeply, but my uncles refused the marriage proposal despite the girl’s father’s generous offer. She eventually married someone else. When she met my cousin later and learned who I was, she cursed me. She said, ‘May God never let him die when he wants to die, and never let him live when he wants to live.’ That curse is why I am still alive.”

‘I have no regrets’

Despite his long life filled with trials, displacement, and heartbreak, Ak says he holds no regrets.

“I’ve never done anything I am ashamed of. Sometimes I wish for death, thinking it would be better to go. But then I remember how sweet life can be,” he said.

Displacement and return

Before the republic was founded, Ak says his family was relocated to Afyon for nearly a decade due to regional instability. “After the establishment of the Republic, Ataturk allowed us to return to our land, and we came back to the soil where I was born and raised.”