In Gandhi’s philosophy, when some evil regime or group wants to attack and kill you, the worst thing you can do is try to run and hide to save your life. That to him is cowardice. The next best thing you can do is to actually fight your enemy and kill him if necessary. This isn’t ideal and doesn’t lead to any real results in Gandhi’s eyes, but it is still better. And the highest and only true form of resisting evil is getting in the face of oppressors with absolutely no intention of using any violence, and being totally prepared to be attacked, killed and/or raped, but never showing “cowardice” in the face of an oppressor.