A simple man with a beautiful family, sitting in his office one day thought - this is not what I want my life to be, I want to make my kids believe in themselves that they can do anything- from there began the story of toil, Arduous yet uplifting odyssey.
Aklakur Rahman, better known as Akke Rahman, a British Bangladeshi mountaineer who broke the record of climbing Mount Elbrus and reaching its summit within 24 hours in 2020. More than mere self-satisfaction, his expeditions forge an inspirational legacy for his children. They stand as a testament to the idea that with pure passion, anything is achievable for anyone, irrespective of their background, offering them a potent message of hope.
He not only conquered earth’s highest elevations, but also wrote a story of motivation, encouragement and conquest of challenges for his three precious children.
Beyond the summit: How a father's mountain dreams became his children's guiding light
It was not a childhood dream, but a gradual, profound longing to leave an indelible mark not only on the world, but also on his cherished children. For over a decade, his world had shrunk to the confines of a single office chair. He felt himself wilting, like a forgotten houseplant, and a stark question echoed in the quiet hum of the fluorescent lights: "Is this truly all there is? Is this the life I want my children to witness?"
In that moment of existential fatigue, a spark ignited – the audacious idea to embark on something grand enough to truly inspire them. He mentioned “I wanted them to see that with the right attitude and determination, anything is possible. I also wanted to leave a legacy and be seen as someone who chased success, so they’d feel motivated to succeed in whatever path they choose”. That’s the origin of the impeccable journey of Akke.
From legacy's echo to living map
His ideologies align with his father’s, which was equally supportive throughout his life. As a father himself, Akke still carries many of his father’s values and beliefs even though they both belonged from different periods of time.
“Life stopped being just about me and became about them,” he says, mentioning how his view towards life has changed after being a father and now whatever he does is for the benefit of his children and family. He is extremely grateful to his wife and her unwavering support as she takes care of the kids during his expeditions. It is because of her he can still pursue this, he says.
He happily admits how his kids are extremely inspired and proud of his achievements, but also confessed that his daughter sometimes gets worried over the matter of his safety. As a father who had the pure intention of influencing his kids, he excelled. The children are aware of how big the hikes are although they are not yet conscious about the technicalities behind it or even technical challenges of high-altitude mountaineering, when he is away from home for months.
He talks about an incident that happened with his son after returning from Kanchenjunga in 2023 which made him really proud, where his son said “You’re getting old, Dad. I’ll take over when I’m older,” over which Akke says that even if he doesn’t still follow, his words meant that Akke did something meaningful with his life.
From peak to purpose
On this Father’s Day, a day for celebrating the unspoken pillars of a family who builds the future of kids and carries a family with their sweaty palms and a beautiful smile, Akke has a message for all of those who are celebrating. Akke says “I hope they take away some real-life values, how to treat people with respect, how to behave with integrity, and how to carry themselves with humility. These are the lessons I want them to remember, even more than the idea that nothing is impossible”.
He also mentions how he raised close to a million pounds through his climbs. He wants the kids to see the impact of it which is not just money, but the intention backing it. Ultimately, he wants them to cultivate kindness and generosity, always looking beyond their own needs. If they become ambassadors for humanity in their unique ways, he'll know he's fulfilled his role as a father.
On this Father’s Day let’s celebrate fathers like Akke who’s story not only inspired his three kids, but millions of other kids and made them believe that nothing is impossible in this world. Just like Paulo Coelho said in Alchemist “when you really want something to happen, the whole universe will conspire so that your wish comes true”. Believe in yourself and there will always be a father behind you with his weakened hands and tired legs still on their way to support you.
