Final answer:
The conflict highlighted is an external cultural one, where Ashoke Ganguli's wish for his child to be called by his Indian name, Nikhil, clashes with the American schooling norms represented by Mrs. Lapidus.
Step-by-step explanation:
The conversation in the excerpt from "The Namesake" reveals an external cultural conflict between Mr. Ashoke Ganguli's Indian traditions and the American schooling system represented by Mrs. Lapidus. Ashoke wants his child to be called by his Indian name, Nikhil, while Mrs. Lapidus is confused as this is not common in the context of the school. This conflict showcases the challenges of maintaining one's cultural identity within a different cultural setting, such as an American school environment, as well as the difficulties that educational systems may face when dealing with cultural diversity.