Was Gandhi's sense of Non-violence skewed?

Gandhi had a very skewed sense of Ahinsa/Ahimsa i.e. Non-violence. Why do I say that? Read on to find out.

Gandhi believed that instead of resorting to violence, the enemy should be won over by a change of heart. While this may sound to be fine in civilian life, the same attitude in military affairs would lead to disastrous results. However, since Gandhi claimed to have derived his beliefs from Hinduism, lets explore the source.

Usually Hindu scriptures are cited to justify Gandhi's views as "अहिंसा परमो धर्मः" - which equates Dharma/virtue with Non-violence. (Dharma is NOT the same as religion.) The funny thing is, this is only half the shlok. The complete shlok, which appears in Mahabharata's Anushasan Parv (महाभारत, अनुशासन पर्व) is - "अहिंसा परमो धर्मः, धर्महिंसा तथैव च" i.e. Non-violence is highest Dharma/moral virtue, violence for right cause is equivalent."

(It should be noted that Translating Dharma into religion is a grave mistake. Dharma is the eternal law of the cosmos, inherent in the very nature of things. So we are not talking about only a few Do's and don'ts but the rules that govern the very nature of every being. Among different synonyms for Dharma, Moral Virtue is one and fits well in the above shlok.)

Another argument is that since Hindu Dharma believes that God resides in every living being, it is wrong to kill the enemy. This idea originates from the Mahavakyas :

1. अहं ब्रह्मास्मि = I am Brahmn/God 

(Brhadaranyaka Upanishad 1.4.10 of the Yajur Veda)

2. तत तत्वं असि = That are you. 

 (Chandogya Upanishad 6.8.7 of the Sama Veda)

These two together translate into - "I am Brahmn/God, so are you."

So, if there is God in everyone and hence even in a Tyrant, it will be a sin to kill Him/Her. BUT, this argument fails to see that if the Tyrant is about to kill you, there is God in you as well and protecting that Brahmn is not only NOT-a-sin but your duty! 

Again, Gandhi's version of Ahimsa preaches laying down one's own life while offering passive resistance. There is an interesting Sanskrit subhashita :

Subhashita:

अति दानात् बलिर्वधो ह्यति मानात् सुयोधनः
अति लौल्यात् रावणो हन्तः अति सर्वत्र वर्जयेत्
Transliteration:
ati daanaat balirvadho hyati maanaat suyodhanaH
ati loulyaat raavaNo hantaH ati sarvatra varjayet

Meaning of the subhAShita:
Bali met his end due to his extreme charity, Suyodhana (Duryodhana) was killed due to his excessive pride, far too much lust brought the end to Ravana. (Hence) give up 'excess' in everything.

Hence, as per Hindu scriptures, while following non-violence is a good idea, blindingly extreme form of  Non violence should be avoided.