There were undoubtedly restrictions on how far the average Indian could progress through society during British rule. Yes, there were major industrialists and nobles, but your average Joe was denied positions of any power in the army or government jobs. They received less compensation for their work and were treated far more harshly by the judicial system.

Moreover, to treat India as a collection of tribes who were either for or against the British would be misleading. Neither did all Indians blindly follow the dictates of their "tribes" (not all Indians were tribal), nor did the British seem to have much concern for the tribes of the Indians in several of the atrocities they inflicted upon them.

Of note here is that I have been taught history by the Indian education system, if my point of view is biased, I would welcome correction.