Waves of Life: A Study of Radio in Bhutanese Refugee Camps in Nepal

Abstract

This paper explores the use of radio by Bhutanese refugees in Nepal. Radio is the primary, and often only, media outlet accessible to refugees and they rely on it heavily for information as well as recreation. Radio is woven into the lives of refugees, and the nature of its incorporation reflects the refugee condition, their state of being and very existence. This paper expands upon the above premise, exploring radio’s significance to refugees and the role it plays in their experiences. In particular, the paper explores radio's ability to provide a sense of home, company and a framework for daily life. It also investigates radio's impact on refugees' perceptions and interactions with time and their connections to other refugees distributed amongst the seven camps and the diaspora resettled abroad. Finally, the paper examines the radio's creation of imagined futures as they plan to migrate from the camps to countries across the globe in accordance with resettlement arrangements.