Romashkin was born in ,
Dubyonsky District,
Mordovian ASSR. In 1975, Romashkin graduated from the conducting and choral department at Saransk Music School. By 1980 he is part of conducting and choral faculty at the
Kazan Conservatory, and in 1986 postgraduate study at MNIIYALIE (folklore and art sector). From 1980 to 1989, he was a research in folklore and art at the Mordovia Research Institute of Language, Literature and History. In 1986, he published his monograph "On some Mordovian features-Karataev traditional art of singing", in which he described Qaratay folklore in villages in the
Tatar ASSR. Later, he became a screenwriter and filmmaker, with his participation were created documentaries
Karatai and
Istoki. He also filmed the musical film for Toorama of the same name. From 1990 to his death in 2002, Romashkin was a teacher of musical disciplines at the National School of Culture in
Saransk. Perhaps Romashkins' most famous work was that of the creation of the group
Toorama, the repertoire of which included Erzya, Moksha, and Qaratay songs. The repertoire of the group was united by traditions of various ethnic groups living in
Mordovia. The group included parts of his family: Romashkin brought his sons, Andrew and Vitaly, to be members of the group. In his last years, while being in contact with the Russian reenactment movement, Romashkin stood as the head of the youth movement "Od Wii" (New Force). He died in
Saransk,
Russia. Toorama, where Romashkins' sons still play a crucial role, continues to give concerts and record albums. == Honors ==