When Mahatma Gandhi described satyagraha as active resistance, he meant it was not a passive or weak strategy. He distinguished it from physical force, emphasizing that it is a moral and spiritual weapon wielded by the strong. Satyagraha, or "truth-force," actively confronts injustice and oppression by appealing to the conscience of the oppressor through non-violent methods like civil disobedience and non-cooperation. It requires immense courage and discipline to endure suffering without retaliating, thereby actively challenging the moral authority of the unjust power.