This ability can be attributed to the way we learn. Psychologists classify chidren on the basis which organ they use most for learning. Some children are good at dancing because they learn at ease by sensing or touching. Painters are at ease learning visually than by hearing.
The Gurukula system of education was in vogue in ancient India, in which a disciple has to learn lessons by hearing to what Guru teaches. The Vedas were learnt only by hearing and this is why they are also termed 'Shruthi' meaning 'the one learnt through ears'. Hence we have a history of learning by listening. Indians were good at philosophy and logic and were writing books on philosophy when few of the civilizations rarely existed.This inheritance has enabled us to be good at visualizing complex problems that do not have any significant visual dimensions. (Visualization is used synonymous to learning or understanding, since the English learn visually in a better way. This has helped them in discovery of various mechanical systems which in turn led to the industrial revolution and colonisation.)
Our educational system confines pupils to their classrooms.While an American is learning automobile systems in an automobile, our student learns it sitting over the wooden bench. We have always dealt with things which we've seldom seen.The western education uses more of visual aids for teaching, we never had anything more than the teacher. This actually has worked to our favor and hence we are able to visualize the complex problems in a better way compared to others.