i have written this line- glEnable(GL_COLOR_MATRIAL); now, i changed the light''s ID from gl_light1 to gl_light0. now i dont get a dark screen, i get a shaded box. but no matter what changes i make into the light, i change position/diffuse/ everything, nothing on the screen changes. is the anything wrong with the light init? using this glLightfv() command?

u dont need color_material for normal lighting , u use this only if u wanna change the objects in your scene material properties, eg make them shinier?, glowing etc to simulate plastic jade gold etc.

Also make sure that you enable that particluar light in question with "glEnable". Also make sure that your objects have normals.