In general if we see the British rule lasted for only 90 years, from 1857 to 1947. Till 1857 East India company, though it had jurisdiction over a large part of India, was technically still not the ruler, but more of an usurper. Till 1857 British faced various resistances across many corners of India, culminating in the rebellion in the ranks of its army in 1857. Dalhousie's ruthless policies of annexation of Indian states (like the Doctrine of Lapse) and the economic exploitation were to a large extent the contributors for the upheaval. However after 1857 Indian people were convinced of the inherent superiority of the British rule and the elites were brought into it by the opportunities it offered to them in education and in getting trained in Western disciplines like Science. But 1905 was a turning point. The Partition of Bengal was a major event that reignited the already existing but latent anger against the economic exploitation and social discrimination faced by the general population. There were several factors which did not create any major upheaval in the period between 1857 and 1905 despite occasional rebellions that were ruthlessly crushed.
A) We did not have a high caliber leader who would galvanize the National movement and make the masses understand the benefits of being free citizens. Also masses abhorred violence and that is where Gandhi’s appeal for non violent non cooperation clicked. Revolutionaries did not have mass appeal owing to the usage of large scale violence that did not suit larger Indian temperament
B) Congress consisting of mostly liberals was heavily relying on prayers and petitions until Aurobindo Ghosh, Bipin Chandra Pal, Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Lala Lajpat Rai came to demand independence from British rule
C) Masses were not concerned with politics for a long time. They were not happy but could not think that British could be made to leave India and India would have its own Government. Also masses had a very low education and considered the white British to be superior to them. They were meant to be slaves and Europeans were destined to rule. Masses were also accustomed to tyrannical rules for centuries, so British atrocities did not hold any special significance for them. They were infact happy to be under a stable Government delivering administration under which they were able to survive by whatever means and that there was no anarchy
D) Hindu Muslim equation - Muslims were happy to be under British rule than under Hindu rule. Hindus were happy to be under British rule than under Islamic rule. Muslims did not have anything called Nationalism in their lexicon. They were perfectly okay as long as the Government allowed them sufficient religious freedom and did not meddle in their affairs. British divide and rule suited them better and worked to their advantage as they did not have an educated middle class
E) The mercenary British Indian Army with its loyal soldiers recruited from the martial classes and careful preservation of all class, caste, linguistic and religious distinctions by the British so that the Army never came together. The Indian army was the main pillar of support of the British Empire. That was why when INA was formed, this pillar was broken and the British were no longer safe
F) Excellent espionage network established by the British Government that would inform them of all subversive activities and prevented Indian revolutionaries from carrying out major plans like the 1914 revolt in the army barracks. Betrayals by Indians because of vested interest was also one of the prime factors