Due to his father’s political activism, Prabowo experienced a childhood of limitations while living outside Indonesia starting from his third grade. Despite this, his love for Indonesia, which was instilled by his parents and grandfather, led him to choose the National Military Academy instead of attending a top American university, even with his high school accomplishments.
In Jakarta, Prabowo divided his time between his father’s residence on Jalan Kertanegara, Kebayoran Baru, and his grandfather’s house on Jalan Matraman. His grandfather, R.M. Margono Djojohadikusumo, lived next to K.H. Hasyim Asyari’s house, who was the grandfather of Indonesia’s fourth president, Gus Dur.
Prabowo also spent time in Switzerland due to political disagreements between Prof. Sumitro and President Sukarno regarding the involvement of the Communist Party of Indonesia (PKI) in Sukarno’s government. As Prof. Sumitro could not accept the PKI’s participation, his overseas home was placed under surveillance by intelligence services.
His education continued at the American School in London, where Prabowo excelled as captain of the football, debate, and chess teams. Additionally, he served as the editor-in-chief of the school magazine. It is worth noting that during this period, Prabowo was the sole Indonesian student at the school.