A college dropout who makes a living by painting houses, Ravi Kumar says he's not giving up - he is preparing to appeal against the high court ruling and has also written to the Indian president seeking his help.

"The high court says there is no need for me to have a certificate, but there is," he insists. "When the government issues religion or caste certificates to people, I too have the right to have a certificate that identifies me as an atheist. I'm also a citizen of this country."

In India, you need a religion certificate only if you change your faith. And caste certificates are given to those who belong to disadvantaged groups and would like to avail of the quota in government jobs or universities.