A great article on Ghandi's position on violence
1920
When there is only a choice between cowardice and violence, I would advice violence,"
"Thus when my eldest son asked me what he should have done had he been present when I was almost fatally assaulted in 1908, whether he should have run away and seen me killed or whether he should have used physical force, which he could and wanted to use, I told him it was his duty to defend me even by using violence...Hence I advocate training in arms for those who believe in the method of violence...But I believe nonviolence is infinitely superior to violence... forgiveness may be more manly than punish.
1924
"My non-violence does not admit of running away from danger and leaving dear ones unprotected. Between violence and cowardly flight, I can only prefer violence to cowardice," he added that "non-violence is the summit of bravery."
1935,
"Non-violence cannot be taught to a person who fears to dice and has no power of resistance."
1939,
as the struggle for independence was peaking:
"For I cannot in any case tolerate cowardice. Let no one say when I am gone that I taught the people to be cowards...I would far rather that you died bravely dealing a blow and receiving a blow than died in abject terror...fleeing from battle is cowardice and unworthy of a warrior...
cowardice is worse than violence because cowards can never be non-violent."
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/gandhi-jayanti-non-violent-mahatma-gandhi-preferred-violence-over-cowardice/1/312776.html
