Prabowo experienced a childhood of limitations due to his father’s involvement in politics, forcing him to live outside of Indonesia starting from the third grade. However, he always held a deep love for his country, instilled by his parents and grandfather. This love for Indonesia led him to choose the National Military Academy over attending a prestigious American university, despite his academic accomplishments in high school.
While in Jakarta, Prabowo split his time between his father’s residence in Kebayoran Baru and his grandfather’s home in Matraman. It is worth noting that his grandfather, R.M. Margono Djojohadikusumo, lived next to K.H. Hasyim Asyari, the grandfather of Indonesia’s fourth president, Gus Dur.
Prabowo also spent some time in Switzerland due to political tensions between Prof. Sumitro and President Sukarno concerning the Communist Party of Indonesia (PKI). Prof. Sumitro could not tolerate the PKI’s involvement in President Sukarno’s government, leading to surveillance of Prof. Sumitro’s overseas residence by intelligence agencies.
His educational journey took him to the American School in London, where Prabowo thrived as the captain of the football, debate, and chess teams. He also held the position of editor-in-chief of the school magazine during his time there. Remarkably, he was the only Indonesian student at the school.
This period of Prabowo’s life was marked by various experiences and challenges that ultimately shaped his future path.