Who is the protagonist in The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri?

Gogul Ganguli is the protagonist in The Namesake.

The entire narrative of The Namesake revolves around Gogul's experiences. Gogul's complex and agonizing search for identity is the basis for the novel. He experiences this struggle emotionally and culturally. We understand the full implications behind Gogol's profound realizations about his own existence, the love he holds for other people, and how he fares in balancing his own needs with his need for others' acceptance. No other character experiences these realities as forcefully as Gogol does. From being so unsettled in the world to finding his place in it, Gogol is the means through which the novel's message emerges.  

Another reason why Gogol is the protagonist is because Lahiri uses him to convey her own experiences. For example, Lahiri struggled with her own name in a way that mirrors Gogol's: "I always felt so embarrassed by my name. . . You feel like you're causing someone pain just by being who you are." Gogol learns a person's identity encompasses both their past and future and the need to accept one's own namesake. Gogol is the vehicle through which Lahiri communicates thematic and personal truths in The Namesake.