Postcolonial Identity and Hybridity in Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake

The background of this research arises from the phenomenon of diaspora identity, which continually undergoes negotiation between the culture of origin and the dominant culture in a new environment. This study aims to analyze the representation of postcolonial identity and cultural hybridity in Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake. The research employs a qualitative approach using a descriptive-analytical method. The primary data source is the text of The Namesake, while the secondary sources are derived from postcolonial theories, particularly Homi K. Bhabha’s concept of hybridity and Stuart Hall’s perspective on identity construction. The data were analyzed through textual interpretation and theoretical examination to reveal the dynamics of the main character, Gogol Ganguli, as a representation of the second-generation Indian-American immigrant experience. The findings indicate that Gogol’s struggle with his name and cultural heritage reflects a fluid, dynamic, and continuously negotiated diasporic identity. Bhabha’s concept of the “third space” is evident in Gogol’s navigation between two cultures, showing that identity is not static but formed through processes of adaptation, conflict, and self-acceptance. The study concludes that Lahiri’s work not only critiques Western cultural assimilation but also exposes the emotional complexity of hybrid identity formation as an act of resistance and self-affirmation amid cultural displacement. The implications of this research suggest that literary studies can serve as a critical medium for understanding broader issues of identity negotiation, cultural belonging, and hybridity in postcolonial and transnational contexts.