Studying the life journey of Prabowo Subianto teaches us that one’s destiny will arrive when pursued earnestly, consistently, and with full dedication. Prabowo’s story resembles a drama combining estrangement, glory, sorrow, and happiness into a single life fragment.

Today, Prabowo is 74 years old. He was born in Jakarta on October 17, 1951, to Soemitro Djojohadikusumo and Dora Marie Sigar.

His father, Soemitro, came from a Javanese family, was an academic, technocrat, prominent economist, and served as a minister during the administrations of Presidents Soekarno and Soeharto.

Prabowo’s grandfather, Margono Djojohadikusumo, was a freedom fighter and member of the Investigating Committee for Preparatory Work for Indonesian Independence (BPUPKI) formed on April 29, 1945. Margono was also an economist trusted by President Sukarno to establish Bank Nasional Indonesia (BNI) as the central bank after independence.

On his mother’s side, Dora Sigar was the daughter of Philip F. L. Sigar, a Minahasan figure who served as a member of the Gemeenteraad in Manado, North Sulawesi. Her father, Laurents A. Sigar, served as Majoor/Hukum Besar during the Dutch colonial era, handling legal and administrative governance in Manado.

Referring to his family lineage from both sides, Prabowo comes from aristocratic circles with noble and distinguished status. He is also President Soeharto’s son-in-law through his marriage to Siti Hediati Hariyadi (Titik Soeharto).

Despite his prominent family background, Prabowo’s life was full of twists. His childhood and adolescence were largely spent abroad in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Switzerland, and Singapore, following his father who frequently opposed President Sukarno.

The fall of Sukarno’s regime in 1967 brought Prabowo back to Indonesia, where his father was appointed Minister of Trade by President Soeharto. As he approached adulthood, Prabowo socialized with pro-democracy activists, including Soe Hok Gie, who became his debate and discussion partner.

Although nine years younger than Gie, they co-founded LSM Pembangunan in 1968, the first NGO in Indonesia. Gie’s death on Mount Semeru in December 1969 deeply affected Prabowo, who lost a respected elder brother and friend.

This event led Prabowo to pursue military education, despite being simultaneously accepted at two prestigious U.S. universities: Colorado University and George Washington University. In 1970, he officially became a cadet at the Indonesian Armed Forces Academy (Akabri) in Magelang.

After graduating in 1974, his military career flourished. He was known for intelligence, courage, and discipline. In 1995, at age 44, Prabowo was promoted from Colonel to Brigadier General and shortly after to Major General, serving as Danjen Kopassus. Three years later, in March 1998, he became Lieutenant General and Kostrad Commander.

Fading Star

The fall of President Soeharto amid reform-related protests in May 1998 marked a new chapter in Prabowo’s life. He was honorably discharged from ABRI despite his rising star, being held responsible for the 1997-1998 national situation.

Prabowo did not protest, accepting the stigma to preserve ABRI’s reputation. His dream was buried as he was on the verge of becoming a full General (four-star).

After leaving ABRI, Prabowo temporarily went to Jordan, meeting his friend Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein, and studied business. He faced passport issues that nearly rendered him stateless.

In 2001, President Abdurrahman Wahid sent Indonesian diplomats to bring him back to Indonesia.

Entering Politics and Repeated Defeats

Back home, Prabowo strengthened his economic portfolio, building businesses and joining organizations like HKTI, APPSI, and IPSI. He regained public visibility as a businessman and civil society figure.

In 2003, he returned to Golkar as Advisory Council Member, running in Golkar’s 2004 presidential convention, but lost to Wiranto. Realizing limited opportunities, he founded Gerindra Party on February 6, 2008, nurturing it into one of Indonesia’s largest parties.

Gerindra’s electoral performance grew steadily: 4.46% (26 seats) in 2009, 11.81% (73 seats) in 2014, 12.57% (78 seats) in 2019, and 13.22% (86 seats) in 2024. Prabowo also consistently ran as presidential or vice-presidential candidate in the last four elections: 2009, 2014, 2019, and 2024.

The Nation’s Unifier

His 2019 election defeat caused extreme societal polarization. To preserve unity, Prabowo accepted the position of Minister of Defense in Jokowi’s 2019-2024 Cabinet. Initially criticized, he chose reconciliation for the sake of the nation.

In cabinet, he gradually restored relations with previously opposed political figures, including Wiranto, Surya Paloh, and Megawati, earning public approval.

In the 2024 election, he chose Jokowi’s eldest son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, as running mate, winning the presidency. As president, Prabowo continues to promote unity, granting amnesty and cabinet positions to political figures, including those involved in his 1998 ABRI discharge.

Prabowo’s leadership, embracing all elements of the nation, marks a new paradigm in Indonesian politics—a patriotic style prioritizing unity and cohesion.