Usage of 'for': For the tribals have the ill luck to live amid India's most...

[Smita Verma]

For the tribals have the ill luck to live amid India's most verdant forests, alongside India's freest-flowing rivers and atop India's most valuable minerals. As these resources have gained in market value, the tribals have had to make way for commercial forestry, large and small dams, and mines.

I have seen similiar kind usage of "FOR" in beginning of other sentences too, still I'm not very sure what it actually used for or represents?

Kindly give some examples too

[Shyone]

A sentence starting with 'for' is usually an explanatory sentence, relating to something that has been said before. So it could only be used in context with something said earlier.
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[Skrej]

I think a perfect example is the old rhyme "For want of a nail".

Not only does it give you several examples, but it highlights Shyone's point about being explanatory in nature.


For want of a nail the shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe the horse was lost.
For want of a horse the rider was lost.
For want of a rider the battle was lost.
For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.
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[Smita Verma]

Thanks for the explanation

Now I have a question from the lines provided in context

For want of nail the shoe was lost

The meaning I can extract is because the nail was missed the shoe was lost ( Battle of Waterloo) ........ which means "want" is working same as " missing" . The other possible meaning according to me is as the nail was requisite for shoe. It, the shoe, was lost as if longing for nail.In this case the meaning of want will be " longing for something (in absence of it)" .

Please suggest which one, is more suitable meaning here and can be used further while making other sentences.

Have a Happy Day

[Skrej]

[Smita Verma]

Thanks